104 STAT. 3696 PUBLIC LAW 101-624—NOV. 28, 1990 Secretary of Agriculture shall publish the information gathered under subsection (a). Subtitle E—Studies, Reports, and Other Provisions SEC. 1551. STUDY OF NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AREA. The Secretary of Agriculture shall study the effects on the United States agricultural economy of the creation of a North American free trade area, including the creation of a United States-Mexico free trade area. The Secretary shall submit a report on the results of such study to the Congress not later than March 31, 1991. SEC. 1552. ROSE AND FLOWER STUDY. (a) IN GENERAL.— The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct a study of the impact of consignment sales of foreign roses and fresh cut flowers on the domestic rose and fresh cut flower industry, taking into account the findings in the report issued in April 1989 entitled "Competitive Conditions in the U.S. and World Markets for Fresh Cut Roses" by the United States International Trade Commission. (b) REPORT TO CONGRESS. —Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall report the results of the study conducted under subsection (a) to the Congress, together with any recommendation of the Secretary on how the domestic rose and fresh cut flower industry can compete fairly with the practice of consignment sales. SEC. 1553. COMMODITY TRANSPORTATION AND TECHNOLOGY ASSESS- MENT AND REPORT. (a) ASSESSMENT. — The Secretary of Agriculture shall conduct an assessment of the impact upon prices received by producers, costs to consumers, and the overall effect upon the ability of the United States to fulfill export goals and expand foreign markets for domestic commodities, of the current sigricultural transportation situation, focusing especially on rail transportation capabilities including rail abandonments, periodic shortages of adequate rail car equipment suitable for transporting agricultural commodities, and the practice of rail carriers selling in advance certificates of transportation. (b) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS. — In preparing the assessment required by this section, the Secretary shall consult with rail, truck, and waterborne carriers who have experience in the transportation of agricultural commodities, and shall also examine the feasibility of— (1) providing technical and financial assistance to producers, marketers, and exporters in the design and construction of alternatives to covered rail hopper cars (such as freight containers which could be carried aboard flatbed trucks, flatbed rail cars, river barges, and oceangoing container vessels) for the purpose of transporting bulk commodities to appropriate terminal market facilities; and (2) encourgiging the establishment of a computerized network which would assist producers, marketers, exporters, and carriers in identifying, matching, and coordinating potential cargoes of agricultural commodities with carriers having proper
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