*EPF511 03/17/00
Text: USTR Names New Special Trade Negotiator for Agriculture
(USDA official will take position) (340)

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has announced that Greg Frazier, currently the Chief of Staff in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has been appointed as USTR's new Special Trade Negotiator for Agriculture and Food Policy.

Frazier will replace Peter Scher, who held the post for three years.

Following is the text of the USTR announcement:

(begin text)

USTR ANNOUNCES GREG FRAZIER AS NEW SPECIAL TRADE NEGOTIATOR
FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD POLICY
March 16, 2000

The Office of the United States Trade Representative is pleased to announce that Greg Frazier, Chief of Staff for the Department of Agriculture, will join USTR as Special Trade Negotiator for Agriculture and Food Policy. Greg Frazier will replace Ambassador Peter Scher who left USTR last week after three years of service as Special Trade Negotiator, and before that as Chief of Staff under Mickey Kantor.

"Greg Frazier's expertise in agriculture and his long service to Secretary [Dan] Glickman and the Department of Agriculture make him the perfect person to fill the role as USTR's Special Trade Negotiator for Agriculture and Food Policy," said U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky. "Greg will play a key role in continuing our efforts to further open international markets for U.S. agricultural exports."

Mr. Frazier has served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Agriculture since January 1995. Prior to that, he was a professional staff member for the House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Staff Director for the House Subcommittee on Wheat, Soybeans and Feed Grains of the Agriculture Committee. From January 1977 until December 1986, Mr. Frazier served in several capacities for then-Congressman Dan Glickman. Mr. Frazier graduated from Kansas State University in 1975 and received a masters degree from the University of Connecticut in American foreign policy in 1976.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)
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