Thread: Mexico: Ag officials sign deal for 'soft landing'

http://www.mexiconews.com.mx/23684.html

Ag officials sign deal for ‘soft landing’

By Jonathan Roeder/The Herald Mexico
El Universal
Miércoles 07 de marzo de 2007

Top agriculture and economy officials called for U.S. help to achieve a "soft landing" next year when tariffs on corn and beans are phased out, leaving Mexican farmers in head-to-head competition with highly efficient U.S. producers.

To work toward this goal, visiting U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, Mexican counterpart Alberto Cárdenas and Economy Secretary Eduardo Sojo signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" during a news conference on Tuesday. They said the document cemented the nations´ commitment to efficiently resolve ongoing agricultural trade problems.

"Sometimes I know we become frustrated with some of the issues that arise, but . billions of dollars are traded between our countries on an annual basis and millions on a daily basis," Johanns said. "We have a very mature trading relationship and there are going to be issues from time to time."

These issues include long-delayed access to the United States for Mexican trucks and the elimination of tariffs, which Mexican activists and farmers say are devastating the countryside. Farm advocacy groups say U.S. subsidies give its producers an unfair competitive advantage, and claim past tariff reductions have forced millions of Mexicans to migrate to the United States illegally.

As stipulated by NAFTA, which went into effect in 1994, tariffs in sensitive areas have been progressively phased out to give the United States, Canada and Mexico time to prepare for tax-free continental competition. The last round of cuts include the staples of corn, beans, sugar and powdered milk, and go into effect in 2008.

To help Mexico weather the pending storm, the U.S. Agriculture Department says it is carrying out programs to help Mexican producers improve productivity, quality and logistics.

And in contrast to grassroots skepticism in Mexico, Johanns voiced an optimistic view of the trade agreement, saying it had provided "unparalleled growth and prosperity for the three signing partners."

"Our goal on this trip is to reinforce our commitment to the free trade provisions exemplified by the North American Free Trade Agreement," he told reporters.

Sojo and Cárdenas also expressed support for the trade deal, citing rapid growth in cross-border trade and investment since it went into effect. Exports in agricultural goods between the United States and Mexico have jumped from less than US$10 billion in 1994 to more than US$20 billion in 2006.

Sojo and Cárdenas added that imperfections remain - such as the U.S. farm subsidies.

"The subsidies and aid given out in the United States have hurt us," Cárdenas said. "We´re still not on a level playing field."

He praised a U.S. government proposal that would reduce aid to farmers and Johanns predicted fewer subsidies for U.S. farmers in the next five years.

Meanwhile, Sojo mentioned the possibility of Mexico backing a Canadian complaint before the World Trade Organization that the U.S. subsidies for corn producers are excessive and illegal.

If the issue is not resolved soon, Canada can request the WTO set up a dispute settlement panel. If such a panel is established, Sojo said Mexico would back Canada´s complaint.

Brace yourselves for the mass 'migration' - maybe this is what all the rumors about Haliburton camps were about. I've read some dark speculation on the 'net - dunno what to believe. I don't see any softer a landing for their corn market than I do for our housing market.

Mexico is furthering their invasion. now American farmers are in danger. In another couple of years America will be complete depent on other countries for everything and we will not be able to exist without them. Our land will be used to grow drugs, our people will be drugged out so they will not know what is happening, americans will not be educated but will be paying for everyone else to be educated, etc., etc., etc.

We've already paved over so much of our good farm and ranchland, that could have been used to grow material for biofuel, so now we need to turn to third world countries and use their farmland.