DATE=7/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235465
TITLE= CONGRESS-S. ASIA SANCTIONS (L)
BYLINE= PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE= CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:    IN A DRAMATIC RACE AGAINST TIME, THE U-S CONGRESS MOVED
TO LIFT A BAN ON FARM CREDITS IMPOSED AFTER INDIA AND PAKISTAN 
CONDUCTED NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY.   THE PAKISTANIS PLAN TO ACCEPT 
BIDS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) FOR A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR GRAIN DEAL.  
AND AS V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, ONCE PRESIDENT CLINTON 
SIGNS THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION, AMERICAN FARMERS WILL BE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE.

TEXT:     MEMBERS OF THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ACTED JUST 
HOURS  AFTER THEY RETURNED FROM A TWO WEEK BREAK.   WITH THE 
CLOCK TICKING AWAY, THEY JOINED THE SENATE AND VOTED (BY A 
UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE) TO LIFT THE BAN.

REPUBLICAN DOUG BEREUTER COMES FROM ONE OF THE KEY WHEAT 
PRODUCING STATES -- NEBRASKA.  HE SAYS AMERICAN FARMERS ARE 
ALREADY FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS...AND 
ARE SUFFERING FROM THE BAN ON FARM CREDITS IMPOSED ON PAKISTAN.

                      /////BEREUTER ACT////

         WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE THOSE PAKISTANI OR INDIAN 
         MARKETS AT THIS TIME.  THERE IS NO REASON WHY THE 
         ECONOMIC SANCTIONS SHOULD FALL ON THE BACK OF THE 
         AMERICAN FARMER.

                        /////END ACT////

PAKISTAN WANTS TO BUY 350-THOUSAND METRIC TONS OF WHEAT WORTH 37 
MILLION DOLLARS.  FARMERS IN THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA -- ALREADY
FACING ROUGH WEATHER CONDITIONS -- SAY THEY NEED THESE KINDS OF 
EXPORTS FOR SURVIVAL.  DEMOCRAT EARL POMEROY IS THE STATE'S LONE 
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.

                       ////POMEROY ACT////

         ..AND WITH PAKISTAN REPRESENTING POTENTIALLY TEN PERCENT
         OF OUR WHEAT EXPORT MARKET, IT IS VITAL THAT WE DON'T 
         LOSE A DAY!  THAT WE DON'T LOSE ONE SALE!

                         ////END ACT////

CONGRESS IS LIKELY TO REVISIT THE SANCTIONS ISSUE AGAIN BEFORE IT
RECESSES FOR THE YEAR IN OCTOBER.   CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT CAL 
DOOLEY IS AMONG THOSE CALLING FOR A COMPLETE RETHINKING OF 
SANCTIONS LAW.

                       ////DOOLEY ACT////

         IF IT MAKES SENSE AND IT IS IN THE INTEREST OF U-S 
         FARMERS TO ALLOW FOR THEIR EXPORTATION OF PRODUCTS TO 
         COUNTRIES THAT ARE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS, WHY DOES IT NOT
         MAKE SENSE FOR US TO ELIMINATE THE SANCTIONS ON THE 
         PRODUCTION OF ANY OTHER U-S PRODUCED COMMODITY?

                        ////END ACT/////

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS NOT ASKING CONGRESS TO LIFT ALL THE
SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE NUCLEAR TESTS, ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT
IS EAGER TO SIGN THE FARM CREDIT EXEMPTION.

THE WHITE HOUSE DOES, HOWEVER, WANT THE LEGISLATURE TO GIVE THE 
ADMINISTRATION MORE FLEXIBILITY IN ITS DEALINGS WITH INDIA AND 
PAKISTAN.   CURRENTLY,  THESE SANCTIONS CAN ONLY BE LIFTED BY AN 
ACT OF CONGRESS.  THE PRESIDENT WANTS THE HOUSE AND SENATE TO 
TRANSFER THAT POWER TO HIM.  (SIGNED)

NEB/PW/PLM

14-Jul-98 6:54 PM EDT (2254 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.