Now we call on Mr. John Pastor from the Delaware Economic Development Office.

MR. PASTOR: Thank you, Distinguished Panel. My name is John Pastor. I'm from the state of Delaware Economic Development Office. Just to let you know who we are, we are the one-stop resource for international trade for the state of Delaware. When Governor Carper took office, with the wisdom of Jack Tarburton, all the efforts of international activities, agriculture, whether it's industrial, were centralized to maximize the resources of the state and minimize the cost. We are this one-stop shop and we work very close to with our Department of Agriculture as well as all departments in the state agency.

First, I want to thank you, USDA, USTR for the supply of information and accurate information that we receive and we are able to disseminate to Delaware businesses. This is critical to us. We need to make sure that we know what other changes are occurring and we want to send this information out to our companies. So the information you have been supplying us on a regular basis is critical to us.

We are also a member, an active member of the Food Export Council USA, which, some of you know, all of you should know is the ten northeastern states in the United States who work very closely together in promoting agricultural products throughout the world. Here is where you can help us a little bit since you asked for information. We would like to see how you can increase the ability of the Food Export Council to assist small and medium-sized agricultural exporters by facilitating and assisting the promotion, specifically financing, of their product promotion overseas.

We would like to take niche markets, niche companies, niche products overseas on a regular basis and, therefore, the Food Export Council is a key element in bringing the ten states together so we can pool our resources and assist the agricultural community.

You mentioned about the French cheese exports and imports into the U.S. I think one of the things you may want to do in your negotiations is to remind these countries, especially the French, that several years ago the French wine industry was the most powerful in the world. Today they're second to the U.S. and that's what will happen to their cheese industry if they don't cooperate with the U.S. We're the largest market in the world. And if you can't sell your product in this market, go into another business.

Our governor mentioned before about the healthy people in the United States. They eat well. He also mentioned that he visited the Middle East and Asia. I happened to be with him on these voyages. And I can tell you the people are very thin overseas. So the European community seems to not like what we put in our food. They should be made aware of the life expectancy in the United States versus everywhere else in the world. Evidently we must be doing something right in our food ingredients because our people are healthy and live longer.

In summary, since I am between you and lunch, anything you can do to eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers will help Delaware businesses and agricultural products overseas. Anything you can do, it will do it. You will help us and help the Delaware businesses in promoting and expanding their international markets.

So I leave you with one comment. Please continue providing us with information so that we can pass this on to the Delaware businesses.

Thank you.

MS. HOWSE: I do have a comment. I'd like to comment as well that we would like for you to keep providing us with information so that we can --

MR. PASTOR: I'm sorry?

MS. HOWSE: For the industry and for the farm producer groups to continue supplying us with information for these listening sessions. As a result of these listening sessions, this is just the beginning of a partnership that we can form to get information. So we'll be looking to you for continued input not only on the next round issues, but also with regards to bilateral issues. And many of these things that have been brought up in the listening session can be handled through bilateral negotiations as well which are ongoing. And just keep it in mind.

MR. PASTOR: Well, you have to remember in the state of Delaware, the export promotion program to my colleague in the state of Pennsylvania are two people, myself and my colleague, and Mr. Matthey. So it's very important that we receive this information on a regular basis. And you know where to send it. You have a one-stop single point of contact in our state. Thank you very much.

MS. HOWSE: Thanks.

MR. CLIFTON: Thank you, Mr. Pastor. And you closed right on time.

We'll break now for lunch. We will start back very promptly at 1:00. It looks as though we're very much on schedule to be able to finish at the allotted time. So let's go and support our agriculture by eating a nice lunch.

Thank you very much.

(The listening session was recessed for lunch.)