MR. CHATMAN: Good afternoon. My name is McKinsly Chatman and I'm a member of -- I'm a member and student of Local 2152 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. I am an employee of the Atlanta Corporation which is a grower and processor and refiner of sugarcane grown in Palm Beach County and south Florida.

I work hard every day and my fellow employees and I can compete with foreign workers but we can not compete with foreign governments. So that's why I think it is important for me to come here today to speak to you about the upcoming WTO negotiations.

The United States sugar industry has long endorsed the goal of global free trade because U.S. sugar producers produce an efficient world standard and welcome the opportunity to compete on a level playing field until free trade goals are achieved. However, the United States must maintain at least the minimum sugar quality to prevent foreign subsidies dumping unfairly to replace efficient American producers.

While unanimously the sugar industry supports the goal of free trade, we have serious concerns of past agreements about structure, future multi-national regional trade agreements, labor and environment standards. They should be part of the negotiations.

A wide gap in labor and environmental standards has developed between developed and developing countries and must be taken into consideration on the next trade Round to add both incentives and penalties to ensure global standards, risks to developed country's levels rather than fall to developing country's levels.

Finally, the United States must not reduce support for agriculture programs, particularly import-sensitive crops such as sugar until other countries have reduced their support to our level.

Again, I thank you for allowing me to express my concerns. Thank you very much.

(Applause.)