GLICKMAN WILL ACCOMPANY PRESIDENT CLINTON AT U.S.-MEXICO BINATIONAL         
   COMMISSION MEETING                                          Release No. 0148.97
Media Advisory
                                    Tom Amontree (202) 720-4623
                                             tamontree@usda.gov
                             Lynn K. Goldsbrough (202) 720-3930
                                       goldsbrough@fas.usda.gov


SECRETARY GLICKMAN WILL ACCOMPANY PRESIDENT CLINTON AT U.S.-MEXICO      
BINATIONAL COMMISSION MEETING IN MEXICO CITY

     WASHINGTON, May 2, 1997-- Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman will
travel to Mexico May 5-7 to attend the U.S.-Mexico Binational Commission
meetings.

     The U.S.-Mexico Binational Commission is an annual high-level meeting
between the Presidents and Cabinet members of both countries.  The
Commission focuses on such areas as agriculture, labor, international trade,
economics, and other areas of mutual interest.  Secretary Glickman, along
with his Mexican counterpart Secretary Francisco Labastida Ochoa, will co-chair a working group on agricultural issues affecting both countries.
     
     The two Secretaries will present a report on their progress in the
working group to U.S. President Bill Clinton and Mexican President Ernesto
Zedillo, who will be meeting in Mexico City on May 5-7.

     In addition, Secretary Glickman will sign a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) on cooperation  in forestry and natural resources with
Mexico's Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Julia Carabias. 
This MOU will implement scientific, technical, and economic cooperative
activities in forestry and natural resources to promote sustainable
development.

     While in Mexico, Secretary Glickman also will tour the International
Center for the Improvement of Corn and Wheat  on the outskirts of Mexico
City, where the high-yield wheats that sparked production gains in the
developing world and beyond were developed.

     "Mexico is the third largest market in the world for U.S. agricultural
products," said Glickman.  "And we are Mexico's largest agricultural trading
partner.  The Binational Commission is an invaluable tool to help strengthen
even further the close trading relationship between the U.S. and Mexico." 

       Currently, the United States provides almost three-fourths of
Mexico's agricultural imports.  U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico in 1996
reached a record $5.4 billion, primarily coarse grains, wheat, and soybeans,
up 50 percent since the North American Free Trade Agreement took effect in
January 1994.   Exports of planting seeds and hides and skins were also up
over 50 percent.  Agricultural export growth to Mexico is forecast to
continue in 1997.
                                
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