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October 28, 2003 The Honorable Robert B. Zoellick United States Trade Representative Executive Office of the President Washington, D.C. 20508 Dear Ambassador Zoellick: As a strong supporter of trade, I endorse the President's plan to open new markets for our nation's producers and agribusinesses. The U.S. agricultural sector relies on trade for a substantial part of its income. Opening new markets is vital to the livelihood of this sector. Our country has embarked on an historic path that, once successfully implemented, will provide new market opportunities and thereby increase net farm income here in the United States. A critical aspect of implementing the President's trade agenda is placing maximum emphasis on enforcing existing agreements. Maintaining markets is as important as creating new ones. This Administration, with the support of the House Agriculture Committee, has worked tirelessly to achieve that objective by implementing strong enforcement mechanisms. One area in which serious market degradation has occurred is the elimination of U.S. exports to Mexico of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). I appreciate the Administration's long-standing commitment to work to resolve this intolerable trade impasse that has shut down a 2 million metric ton potential HFCS market for our nation's corn farmers and refiners. The inability of the Mexican Congress to remove its discriminatory soft drink tax and begin to meaningfully address this issue is straining the entire trading relationship with Mexico. A commercially viable solution must be found that re-opens the Mexican market to U.S. HFCS exports immediately. Mexico's lack of a solution or willingness to quickly address this matter should be met with a strong counter response from our government, including retaliation if necessary. I support the private sector talks that are now underway and hope that these efforts, combined with high-level interaction by our respective governments, will bring about the solution that our corn industry has long awaited. I look forward to hearing from you on this very important matter. Sincerely, Congressman Bob Goodlatte Chairman House Committee on Agriculture 
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