Steve Watkins: “I rise to say that I agreed with many things that have been said by the minority side concerning this amendment. I would…”

“I rise to say that I agreed with many things that have been said by the minority side concerning this amendment. I would like to clarify some matters, though. I think emotionally some people get carried away. I know the gentleman from Ohio stated that it was the WTO that put the embargo against the growth hormone on beef. That is not true. Mr. Chairman, that was a unilateral decision by the European Union after the GATT negotiations. Our own USTR did push for a penalty on the unfair trade barrier being placed against growth hormones. I have been fighting the battle to lift the growth hormone ban for 7 months. I have been fighting, pounding the table, becoming obnoxious about this unfair trade barrier. We must have stronger people to negotiate and fight for the United States position. The point I am making, Mr. Chairman, if it had not been for the WTO finally recognizing and ruling against this unfair trade practice placed upon our beef producers by the European Union we would not have a world decision in our favor. It took several years by the USTR and 7 months of my own effort and we have to go through a 90-day appeal. Mr. Chairman, I am thankful under that circumstance the WTO was there to help, or rule against the European Union--125 million unfair trade balance against our beef producers. I think our beef people are going to reap a lot of benefit from it.”