ALAN TIEMANN: Distinguished panel of Congressional representatives, federal agency and State of Nebraska representatives, my name is Alan Tiemann. I farm at Seward, Nebraska, and currently serve as Vice Chairman of the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board. As a board member, I am Director of the U.S. Grains Council where I serve on the Council Trade Policy Coordinating Committee. In that capacity, I'm working alongside the Council to closely monitor the upcoming WTO negotiations to be held in Seattle.

We are pleased that you as administrative officials and elected representatives have chosen to bring the WTO process to the people through a series of listening sessions such as this one. The WTO is created to provide assurance to both producers and consumers that trade will flow smoothly, predictably, and as freely as possible. As stakeholders in the international agricultural trade, we are pleased to offer input on behalf of the Nebraska grain sorghum growers.

I would like to briefly outline some of the priority issues that the sorghum industry would like to see addressed.

Biotechnology and genetically modified organisms. The WTO is an ideal forum to discuss biotechnology. This is an issue of tremendous importance to U.S. producers. While we believe it is critically important that a set of scientifically sound international standards be established to govern GMO's, we also embrace the philosophy that customers are entitled to get what they want. Currently, grain sorghum is one of the few remaining non-GMO commodities and as such our producers are interested and willing to meet the needs of our international customers in today's market, grain sorghum can be marketed and sold with the complete confidence that it is GMO free without the added cost, paperwork, and risk of an identity-preserved program.

New scientific developments in sorghum research offer potential for improved sorghum hybrids through the use of biotechnology and development of an internationally approved set of standards for biotech crops would enable new products to move freely within the world market.

Market access provisions of the previous GATT negotiations stipulated establishment of minimum import access opportunities. We would like to see sorghum specifically included in these minimum access agreements as it would provide opportunity in the immediate future for the export of U.S. sorghum and pave the way for future long-term market demand.

On tariffs and tariff rate quotes, since its establishment in 1995, the WTO has had a positive impact on U.S. agriculture. Tariffs have replaced trade distorting and unfair non-tariff barriers with the promise of continued reduction and eventual elimination of these tariffs. For example, Morocco's establishment of tariffs has led to major purchases of U.S. grain sorghum. This volume is expected to see 100,000 metric tons this year. However, we need further progress in this area.

Tariff rate quotas need to accurately reflect consumption needs. Some nations have tariff rate quotas set too low to allow their grain users to import grains economically. At the same time, some nations apply unequal tariffs on similar commodities. These tariff inequities also need to be addressed.

On export subsidies, internal price supports and export subsidies are the most trade-distorting government policies. We need the U.S. negotiating team to take a strong stance in pressing for the elimination of export subsidies as well as restriction on internal support measures that result in productions that would not occur absent payments by the government. This production increases world grain stocks and distorts markets with artificial lows.

On sanitary, phytosanitary standards, WTO provisions require SPS measures must be based on sound science. These provisions have previously been negotiated and the SPS committee has specifically assigned the authority to review these measures.

We expect and support strict enforcement of these rules and encourage the development and adoption of international health standards, the same principles for SPS should be applied to GMO standards.

State trading enterprise would -- we would support greater transparency with regard to the practices of state trading enterprises. Increased transparency in their activities would place them more under scrutiny of the global ag community and guard against unfair trade practices.

The WTO is a young organization with a huge responsibility since it is the only international entity dealing with global rules of trade. It is intended to provide a trading system that honors our values, functions, under rules that are open fair and accountable.

We would ask that the U.S. negotiating team to remain ever mindful of their charge and responsibility to U.S. agriculture as the Seattle talks resume.

Thank you very much.