Not down with NAFTA

More rumblings from Mexico about discontent with the NAFTA. From the USDA FAS attache report from Mexico Dec. 3 comes this translation/summation of a news article published in Mexico:


AT LEAST 1.4 MILLION GROWERS UNDER RISK BECAUSE OF NAFTA

According to Cruz Lopez-Aguilar, leader of the National Farmers Confederation (CNC), at least 1.4 million corn and dry bean growers could be out of business due to the trade opening under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 2008. He added the CNC will continue to push the GOM to exclude corn and dry beans from NAFTA. They will also request the GOM to establish a mechanism to control imports and exports of both commodities, and that the GOM should honor the addendum in the National Agreement in Agriculture. The CNC will insist that small and medium growers receive support from the Competitive Corn and Dry Beans Fund, which will allow them to have monetary support of at least 10 million pesos. Lopez-Aguilar stated that the CNC, along with other farmer organizations, will restart demonstrations to defend corn and dry bean growers. (Source: Excelsior & La Jornada; 11/28/2007)


Another item.....

Contrary to the opinion of the majority of Mexican agricultural worker’s organizations that have pressured the GOM to renegotiate NAFTA’s agricultural chapter, the Mexican General Union of Industrial and Agricultural Workers (UGOCM) declared that renegotiating the trade agreement is not the solution. Instead, they stated that other measures like competitiveness-enhancement programs, credit and production support, and investments should be established by the GOM. Jose Luis Gonzalez, UGOCM Leader, explained there is no need to use political pressure. However, he stated that a real commitment from the authorities should protect and help the agricultural sector. (Source: Rumbo De Mexico, 11/29/2007)


And another.....

NAFTA DOES NOT BENEFIT THE MEXICAN COUNTRYSIDE
NAFTA has not been good for the Mexican rural communities, agreed researchers. Since NAFTA’s implementation in 1994, trade between Mexico and the United States has tripled. However, farmers have not benefited. “NAFTA’s objective was to stop migration to the states and in that sense NAFTA has been not a success,” said Victor Suarez, President of the Rural Producers National Association of the Northern Border College. Suarez stated that 13,000 rural inhabitants migrate to the U.S. every year, and that, since NAFTA’s implementation, almost two million jobs related to agriculture were lost. Mexican agricultural exports are managed by 12 big foreign companies, but Suarez did not mention names. (Source: El Universal; 11/14/2007)

One more......

UNPRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURE, 48 DAYS UNTIL TRADE OPENING
According to the Center of Economic Studies of the Private Sector (CEESP), it’s unlikely the Mexican agricultural sector can elevate its production levels to compete with the United States, and in less than 48 days, the border will completely open. A CEESP study concluded that Mexico has an agricultural sector that does not produce enough to export or to supply the population's growing necessities. Mexico is the 52nd largest country for agricultural growth, which is why public policies are required immediately. (Source: El Financiero; 11/13/2007)