U.S. SENATE BILL AMENDMENT WOULD IMPACT U.S. TRADE SANCTIONS POLICY

   The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to add an amendment to the pending
Agriculture appropriations bill which would change U.S. trade sanctions
policy.
   The amendment by Sen. John Ashcroft, R-Mo. would require the President to obtain congressional approval before the U.S. implements new trade sanctions that include agricultural products or medicine.
   If passed, the amendment would also provide for a 180-day review to
decide whether to maintain sanctions against nations under sanctions, which are Cuba, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan and North Korea, Ashcroft said.
   "When the U.S. uses food as a diplomatic weapon, by imposing unilateral agricultural embargoes against foreign leaders, it takes away from our farmers their ability to sell their products," Ashcroft said.