FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 1999
CONTACT:

Barry Polsky
(202) 463-2467

Michael Klein
(202) 463-2478

The following statement was issued by AF&PA President and CEO W. Henson Moore regarding the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial meeting in Seattle:

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. forest products industry is keenly disappointed that the WTO talks were adjourned without concluding an agreement on free trade in forest products under the Accelerated Trade Liberalization (ATL) initiative.

Our industry's presence in Seattle, together with that of our strong allies in organized labor, helped us overcome early objections to ATL. Discussions with EU member states at the WTO meeting appeared to have advanced support for ATL, which will provide substantial benefits for European industry.

The U.S. substantially eliminated tariffs on paper and wood products 20 years ago, and we have been waiting for the world to follow suit ever since. During that time, it has been difficult for American forest products companies to compete internationally.

Wood and paper produced in the United States are among the most environmentally sound products in the world. Lowering tariff levels worldwide would have made those products more readily available to consumers the world over. That would mean countries with more delicate forest ecosystems could ease the burden placed on their resources while still enjoying the forest products we and they need.

We believe ATL remains a sound economic proposition and hope that a way can be found to go forward with an agreement that will eliminate foreign market access barriers on the 29 percent of U.S. exports covered by the forest products and seven other ATL sectors.

Thanks to the tremendous efforts of the U.S. negotiating team -- especially USTR Barshefsky and Secretary Daley -- we believe the economic significance of ATL is now better understood by U.S. trading partners and we look forward to working with the Administration on ways to resume discussions as soon as possible.

AF&PA is the national trade association of the forest products industry. AF&PA represents more than 250 companies and related associations that engage in or represent the manufacture of pulp, paper, paperboard and wood products. The forest products industry accounts for more than eight percent of total U.S. manufacturing output, employs 1.5 million people and ranks among the top ten manufacturing employers in 46 states.

For further information on the AF&PA, access our web site at:

www.afandpa.org.