Interviews
NCC Chairman sees excellent prospects for US cotton
06 Jan '10
5 min read
Regarding appropriations, Hardwick noted that the NCC worked to secure funding for the industry's priority programs which included continuation of the cost share for the boll weevil and pink bollworm eradication programs, additional support for the Farm Services Agency, funding for the Foreign Agricultural Service to carry out its important export market work, and increased support for the USDA ginning laboratories.
“In addition, during the appropriations markup for FY10, the Council worked with key Congressional leaders and other agricultural groups to ensure that there would be no provisions included that would result in amendments to the current farm bill,” he said.
On the trade front, Hardwick said the NCC remains active on several issues including the WTO Brazil cotton case. The NCC responded to the Arbitration Panel's findings and met with the U.S. Trade Representative's Office to examine options, including USTR calling for a new panel if Brazil announces retaliation and that retaliation is excessive.
“The establishment of a new panel will provide the U.S. with the opportunity to introduce all of the changes that have been made to the U.S. cotton program and to the GSM export credit program which we believe will clearly demonstrate our compliance with WTO rules,” Hardwick said.
Regarding the WTO Doha negotiations, he said the NCC continues to: 1) support a comprehensive agreement that does not include any reductions in commodity programs without proportionate documented gains in market access, 2) emphasize that the proposal presented at the 2008 Geneva ministerial should not be the basis for future negotiations, and 3) offer appreciation for USTR Ambassador Ron Kirk's stance in defense of the U.S. cotton program in the face of continued, but unwarranted, criticism.
Hardwick told attendees the NCC is urging Senate and House leaders to support bills in both chambers that would provide emergency disaster assistance. He said the NCC also has been very active on a number of regulatory issues from clean water and climate change to enhanced Commodity Futures Trade Commission enforcement authority. Beyond the near-term challenges that our industry faces, he said the NCC has implemented a plan for effectively addressing several important long term goals. That includes good progress on the Cotton Foundation's Vision 21 project, which provides a three-pronged approach for addressing the critical issues facing the U.S. cotton industry.
“In addition, during the appropriations markup for FY10, the Council worked with key Congressional leaders and other agricultural groups to ensure that there would be no provisions included that would result in amendments to the current farm bill,” he said.
On the trade front, Hardwick said the NCC remains active on several issues including the WTO Brazil cotton case. The NCC responded to the Arbitration Panel's findings and met with the U.S. Trade Representative's Office to examine options, including USTR calling for a new panel if Brazil announces retaliation and that retaliation is excessive.
“The establishment of a new panel will provide the U.S. with the opportunity to introduce all of the changes that have been made to the U.S. cotton program and to the GSM export credit program which we believe will clearly demonstrate our compliance with WTO rules,” Hardwick said.
Regarding the WTO Doha negotiations, he said the NCC continues to: 1) support a comprehensive agreement that does not include any reductions in commodity programs without proportionate documented gains in market access, 2) emphasize that the proposal presented at the 2008 Geneva ministerial should not be the basis for future negotiations, and 3) offer appreciation for USTR Ambassador Ron Kirk's stance in defense of the U.S. cotton program in the face of continued, but unwarranted, criticism.
Hardwick told attendees the NCC is urging Senate and House leaders to support bills in both chambers that would provide emergency disaster assistance. He said the NCC also has been very active on a number of regulatory issues from clean water and climate change to enhanced Commodity Futures Trade Commission enforcement authority. Beyond the near-term challenges that our industry faces, he said the NCC has implemented a plan for effectively addressing several important long term goals. That includes good progress on the Cotton Foundation's Vision 21 project, which provides a three-pronged approach for addressing the critical issues facing the U.S. cotton industry.
National Cotton Council of America
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