How much is too much?

ARLINGTON, VA -- The USA Rice Federation has responded to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) request for an analysis of trade barriers standing in the way of U.S. rice exports.  USTR will consider the USA Rice submission as they publish the 2015 National Trade Estimates Report (NTE) that highlights the substantial trade barriers facing U.S. exporters.   

This year's submission highlights the continuing difficulties faced by U.S. rice exporters in key markets in Asia because of protectionist foreign government policies, as well as continuing constraints faced on shipping to the European Union because of the EU's complex and discriminatory duty structure on rice imports. 

The USA Rice letter also summarizes the finding of research sponsored by USA Rice on the compliance of key competing rice exporting countries with the requirements of the World Trade Organization (WTO).   Thailand, for example, likely exceeded the limit on domestic support for rice that it agreed to in the WTO's Uruguay Round because of a very generous price support program.  When that support, called the paddy pledging scheme, resulted in a huge increase in government-owned stocks, Thailand very likely turned to using export subsidies to move the stocks onto the world market, contrary to the country's WTO commitment not to use export subsidies for rice.

"The NTE report is a valuable tool for USA Rice to present to the Administration and Congress in one place the policies and trade barriers of foreign governments that hold back U.S. rice sales," said USA Rice COO Bob Cummings.  "We look forward to the publication of the report early next year and to working with U.S. trade officials to remove these barriers."

Contact:  Kristen Dayton (703) 236-1464

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