Grassley: Top Trade Official to Visit Iowa

Ambassador Robert Zoellick is a member of President Bush's cabinet. As the trade representative, Zoellick is responsible for directing all trade negotiations and formulating trade policy for the United States. When he visits Des Moines next week, he will bring along Allen F. Johnson, the Special Agricultural Negotiator for the trade representative. Johnson is originally from Scott County, Iowa.

Last year, Iowa exported $3.26 billion worth of merchandise. That was a 4.7 percent increase from 1997, and nearly 67 percent higher than the state's 1993 total. The USTR estimates that 43,700 jobs in Iowa support export sales. Wages for workers in export-related jobs are 13-18 percent higher than the national average. In addition, about 48,600 Iowans hold jobs related to agriculture exports.

Grassley will hold a news conference with Zoellick at 1 o'clock on Monday, August 13, at the Polk County Farm Bureau Picnic Pavilion on the state fairgrounds. Johnson also will be available for comment at the news conference.

"Exports are the source of profitability in agriculture, so an aggressive and successful trade agenda is vitally important to Iowa's economy and the future of family farming," Grassley said. "This fall, Congress will decide whether or not to give the President of the United States authority to negotiate agreements that open new markets and break down trade barriers. Because trade is the key to the marketplace and profitability in agriculture, the vote on trade promotion authority is more important for farmers than even the emergency assistance from the government or the upcoming farm bill debate. Farm income comes from both the federal treasury and the marketplace, but the marketplace is where the profit is made."

Grassley said it's especially good news for Iowa to have a native son in charge of looking out for agriculture at the world trade negotiating table. Both Zoellick and Johnson were nominated to their positions by the President and confirmed for those posts by the U.S. Senate. Grassley served as chairman and is now the leading Republican on the Finance Committee, which reviewed their qualifications.

"Ambassador Zoellick's expertise and command of complex trade issues will serve our country well during the ongoing negotiations on the Free Trade of the Americas and the WTO ministerial meeting scheduled for later this year in Qatar," Grassley said. "He is also leading the effort to restore the President's ability to negotiate trade agreements so that the United States can keep its position of leadership in the world community."

Grassley also said that Johnson is well-equipped to understand the particular challenges of agricultural trade. Johnson served as Grassley's agricultural policy advisor from 1985 to 1987. More recently, he led the National Oilseed Processors Association in Washington, D.C. Several years ago, Grassley worked to create the special agriculture negotiator position which Johnson holds. Grassley said it was important for agriculture to be fully represented in the office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

During his biennial international trade tour, Grassley will take ambassadors and diplomats from 53 countries to Iowa. In addition to visiting the State Fair on Monday, the delegation will hear from Zoellick and Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack at a reception and trade show at the Hotel Savery on Monday evening.

From Des Moines, the bus caravan will travel through Brooklyn, Coralville/Iowa City, West Branch, the Quad Cities, Muscatine, Burlington, Fort Madison, Mount Pleasant, Fairfield, Ottumwa, Oskaloosa, Eddyville, Pella, Knoxville and Indianola, Grassley will show the diplomats the state's business, educational and cultural opportunities. This event will be the eighth ambassadors tour Grassley has organized since 1986 to promote trade opportunities for Iowans by showcasing the state's people, places and products.

"This tour promotes Iowa's workforce, quality manufactured products, state-of-the-art research and educational facilities, raw commodities and value-added agricultural products," said Grassley. "We give our guests an opportunity to explore America's heartland so that they can share worldwide about all of the good things Iowa has to offer."

Grassley said he began his effort during the 1980s farm crisis, and that recent depressed commodity prices underscore Iowa's economic dependence on international trade. Fostering good relations with new and existing trading partners is an integral part of Grassley's work as ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees trade issues. Grassley has been pushing hard this year for trade promotion authority for the President, a vital tool for expanding U.S. trading opportunities.

Grassley is leading this year's trade tour of Iowa during the month-long Congressional recess that started last Friday.

"We don't sign contracts on these Iowa trade tours, but we sow the seeds," Grassley said. "The feedback I receive from past tour participants is that the experience and networking opportunities yield positive results for everyone. "

As in previous years, hundreds of Iowans will open their homes to host the diplomats overnight in Bettendorf, Mount Pleasant and Pella. "Iowa families, local sponsors and host communities play a key role in the tour's success," Grassley said.

Tour events are completely funded by private individual and corporate sponsors. Grassley also works with the Iowa Department of Economic Development to maximize the benefits of the trade tour of Iowa.

Monday, August 13, 2001

DES MOINES

11:55 a.m.International Delegation Arrives at Signature Flight Support

5400 Fleur Drive


1:00 p.m.Luncheon and Tour at the Iowa State Fair

>Lunch at the Polk County Farm Bureau Picnic Pavilion


5:30 p.m.Iowa Department of Economic Development "Taste of Iowa Reception"and Greater Des Moines Partnership International Tradeshow at the Hotel SaverySpecial Guest: United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Zoellick401 Locust St.

DES MOINES

7:30 a.m.World Food Prize Breakfast at the Marriott Hotel700 Grand Avenue

BROOKLYN

10:30 a.m.Tour Lang Family Dairy Farm

>1820 400th Avenue

CORALVILLE

12:30 p.m.Events at University of Iowa Oakdale Campus

>Tour National Advanced Driving Simulator

2401 Oakdale Boulevard

or

Tour Center for Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing

2501 Crosspark Road, Suite C100

or

Lunch at Oakdale Hall

Old Hospital Road

WEST BRANCH

3:00 p.m.Tour Herbert Hoover Library at West Branch

>210 Parkside Drive

BETTENDORF

6:00 p.m.Dinner and Tradeshow at Isle of Capri Conference Center

>1777 Isle Parkway

Overnight with Bettendorf Host Families

MUSCATINE

8:30 a.m.Breakfast and Community Visit

>Bandag Learning Center

2000 Bandag Drive

BURLINGTON

11:30 a.m.Lunch and Tradeshow at Best Western PZAZZ!

>3001 Winegard Drive

FORT MADISON

2:00 p.m.Tour Sheaffer Pen Company

>301 Avenue H

MOUNT PLEASANT

4:30 p.m.Tour Old Threshers Museum

>405 E. Threshers Road


5:45 p.m.Tour Iowa Wesleyan College

>601 N. Main


6:45 p.m.Dinner and Tradeshow at Mount Pleasant Community High School

>307 E. Monroe


Overnight with Mount Pleasant Host Families

FAIRFIELD

8:15 a.m.Tradeshow at Best Western-Fairfield Inn

2200 W. Burlington

OTTUMWA

10:15 a.m.Tour Al-Jon Corporation

>14500 2nd Avenue

OSKALOOSA

12:15 p.m.Lunch on Town Square in the Park

>Tour World Food Park

Highway 23 South

EDDYVILLE

3:15 p.m.Tour Chamness Technology in Eddyville

>24820 160th Street (Call 641/969-5702 for directions)

PELLA

6:00 p.m.Reception at Pella Window Store

>301 Main


7:30 p.m.50's and 60's Night on the Pella Square


Overnight with Pella Host Families

KNOXVILLE

8:15 a.m.Tour 3M Plant in Knoxville

3406 E. Pleasant Street

INDIANOLA

10:45 a.m.Lunch and Tour Summerset Winery

>1507 Fairfax

DES MOINES

2:25 p.m.International Delegation Departs Signature Flight Support

>5400 Fleur Drive

* Indicates the ambassador will attend. In other cases, countries will be represented by a trade commissioner or economic minister who is part of the diplomatic team in the country's embassy in Washington, D.C.