AMBASSADOR SUSAN SCHWAB: I want to thank you all for being here and to note that we are on the eve of a very, very important moment in the Doha Development Round of the World Trade Organization. I'm very pleased Secretary Johanns is with us and will be joining us in Geneva this week. The Secretary has obtained something of a rock star status at USTR and with his counterparts overseas, with his steady, thoughtful, and intrepid leadership on agricultural trade efforts. He is a valuable partner.

It's also terrific to be here with key leaders from both parties in both the House and Senate. These individuals, these gentlemen and the other members who are going to be joining us today have played critical roles in keeping the Doha Round on track during difficult times. And once again we're experiencing what the President has referred to as tough sledding regarding the negotiations.

You've all shown real leadership and vision and political courage in backing the administration's efforts to try to jumpstart these talks last fall with our bold proposal to cut agricultural tariffs and trade-distorting domestic supports.

Once again we're headed off to Geneva later on today, Secretary Johanns and I, our negotiating teams, for what we hope will be a breakthrough. We are eager for a comprehensive and meaningful agreement and determined to craft a final deal that is good for American workers, manufacturers, good for American service providers, and good for American farmers and ranchers.

We made it clear last fall that our proposal was not a take it or leave it offer. However it was contingent upon receiving the meaningful offers from our trading partners that match our level of ambition on agricultural market access. We have yet to receive such offers.

So as we head to Geneva, we note that the commitment of the United States, the administration, members of Congress, industry groups, and indeed, the American people is to a comprehensive, ambitious and meaningful agreement. We hope that this commitment will inspire our trading partners to do the same. Only by making the tough decisions on market access will we be able to make the historic strides promoting growth and global economic development through trade.

Thank you.

Secretary Johanns?

SECRETARY MIKE JOHANNS: Thank you. I'll offer a few thoughts, and then we'll hear from members of the House and Senate who are with us today. We are at a very, very critical stage in the Doha Round. I would even go so far as to say this is a make or break stage for us. We are literally down to a point where there just isn't much time left to have this Doha Round come together. So if anything, this is really a time where there has to be a renewed effort by everyone to bring this together.

A very important point that I want to make today -- this is very important. I really feel strongly that we can't afford to see this round pass us by. This year we will set another record in trade, in agricultural trade by $67 billion dollars is what we are estimating-- very, very important to our farmers and ranchers.

But it has to be a level playing field. It has to be a round that is balanced. I can't come to these folks on the Hill and say that we have given away our domestic support if I can't get a very solid market access agreement. These are the folks that really step up for us and help us get the trade agreement to the finish line.

So our offer has always been contingent upon this notion of we've got to get market access in return for what we're willing to do in the domestic support arena.

We will do our share. We have always said that.

Let me just wrap up and express my appreciation to Susan. She has come into this effort at a very important time, and she was ready for it. Years and years of experience, and I want you to know, we really have not missed a beat. I've sat through sessions already with Susan, and she's doing a great job. Quick study. She understands what's at stake here. So I look forward to next week and our efforts over in Geneva.