GLICKMAN CREATES HIGH-LEVEL TEAM TO ADDRESS TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE

                                            Release No. 0368.97
                                                               
                                   Jim Petterson (202) 720-4623
                                         jim.petterson@usda.gov

GLICKMAN CREATES HIGH-LEVEL TEAM TO ADDRESS TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE

     WASHINGTON,  Oct. 17, 1997--Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman has set
up a formal, high-level group of U.S. Department of Agriculture officials to
coordinate departmental efforts to tackle technical barriers to agricultural
exports and imports.

     The group, formally known as the Policy-Level Group on Technical
Barriers to Trade, will be made up of senior officials from USDA agencies
and offices that deal with the range of foreign barriers to U.S. agriculture
exports and imports.  The group will be coordinated by the Office of the
Secretary and chaired by Paul Drazek, Special Assistant to the Secretary for
International Trade.  The group will meet at least once a month.

     "With the 1995 formation of the World Trade Organization, and the
American farmer's increasing reliance on international markets, trade issues
have taken on a new and increased importance for this department," Glickman
said.  "Sanitary and pytosanitary barriers, as well as emergency issues
including food safety and biotechnology, are some of the most difficult
problems we face.  USDA is fortunate to have experts in every aspect of
agricultural trade.  Harnessing and focusing this knowledge and expertise is
essential if we are to address current and future agricultural trade
challenges."

     Agencies with representatives in the group include the Foreign
Agricultural Service, as well as the Agricultural Marketing Service; Animal
Plant and Health Inspection Service; Agricultural Research Service; Economic
Research Service; Food Safety and Inspection Service; Grain Inspection,
Packers and Stockyards Administration; and the Office of the General
Counsel. 

     The group will focus on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues and
other technical barriers to trade, provide direction for the resolution of
SPS issues and when appropriate, make policy recommendations to USDA
subcabinet members and serve as the department's point of reference on these
issues with other non-USDA agencies.  The group will coordinate, not
replace, the work of other USDA technical-level interagency working groups
on SPS issues.

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