Farmers Call For NAFTA Reforms

[Joanne98]

NAFTA has produced winners, mostly multinational corporations and a long list of losers, which includes farmers. The trade agreement has been the source of much discontent and has become an easy target. NAFTA is so badly flawed, but it is only one part of our failed trade and economic strategy. It has hurt many farmers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Just as there are calls to reform energy, investment, labour and environmental provisions of NAFTA, many are also demanding changes to agricultural clauses found in the agreement.

At a recent trilateral conference held in Billings, Montana, there was a general consensus among livestock producers that NAFTA is not working for North American farmers, ranchers and consumers alike. The two day conference was hosted by the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC). The meetings addressed many challenges facing family farmers and ranchers, including the negative impact of NAFTA. Many of the promises made by proponents of the trade agreement, have not been kept and so called benefits have failed to materialize. Representatives at the conference are calling for new trade policies and market reforms, and are urging the leaders of the U.S., Canada and Mexico to renegotiate NAFTA.

Along with calling for changes to NAFTA, the conference made up of consumer groups and livestock producers from around North America, laid out other specific recommendations. In a press release, they called for the “Establishment of domestic food and agricultural policies that provide farmers with the cost of production without dumping commodities into other countries at below the cost of production.” They also called for “Setting up publicly-owned grain reserves to stabilize prices and to provide fair prices to both farmers and consumers.” Further economic integration and expanded trade under NAFTA has failed to benefit many farmers. Some have been forced to give up their livelihoods, as a result of low market prices. Conferences such as this one, illustrate the importance of working together. Now more then ever, it is essential that farmers in North America present a common front and pursue shared objectives, in order to better protect their future interests.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Farmers-Call-For-NAFTA-Ref-by-Dana-Gabriel-090226-622.html