Release No. 0159.99

Statement
                               by
             Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman 
  on the Signing of U.S.-China Bilateral Agriculture Agreement
                                
                         April 10, 1999
                                
                                
     "This agreement is a fundamental breakthrough for American agriculture. 
Over the years, we estimate that China's sanitary and phytosanitary
restrictions have cost America's competitive producers billions of dollars in
sales.  China's agreement to lift these longstanding and contentious barriers
to our grain, citrus, and meat could have significant benefits, permitting
greatly expanded exports of these products to China's vast market.  This
agreement will also help many American farmers during a period of extreme
economic stress."  

#