04/15/05 C.A.F.T.A.-D.R. and the NW, Part two

In attempting to determine just how the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement and companion F.T.A. between the U.S. and Dominican Republic will help or hinder Northwest agriculture and our region's economy, many are taking their lead from what individual national commodity groups and ag organizations are saying. One of the biggest statements by proponents on how important C.A.F.T.A.-D.R. is in opening new and expanding existing markets is the very vocal support of the deal by the U.S. Apple Association. In fact, a Virginia area orchardist was one of those ag representatives chosen to speak at this week's pro C.A.F.T.A.-D.R. rally in Washington D.C. Traditionally, the fruit and vegetable industry as a whole keeps a low profile when it comes to support of trade deals. But Phil Glaze, a Virginia apple grower and member of U.S. Apples' board of trustees, says the benefits for Northwest apple growers alone would be a level playing field in markets that want our apples, but that have allowed competitors to come in with better deals. GLAZE: Two years ago, the U.S. and Chile shared the same market share in Central America. Chile then negotiated duty free access for its apples, and immediately, market share for Chile jumped twenty per cent. Those Northwest beef producers and cattle industry members supporting C.A.F.T.A.-D.R. might be taking their lead from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Michelle Reinke of N.C.B.A. is calling the trade agreement a win-win for America's cattlemen and beef producers. REINKE: These countries already have access to our market. And what this agreement does is provide us additional access to them that we face tariffs in the region as high as forty per cent. And what the agreement does is eliminates all of those by the end of the fifteen years. Even the wheat industry is mostly on board with C.A.F.T.A.-D.R.. Barbara Spangler of the Wheat Export Trade Education Committee notes how her industry which already gets significant breaks in Central America will benefit more from even more declining tariffs. SPANGLER: For the wheat industry alone in the first year in opening up the market, we're looking at a $50 million dollar growth. But let it be noted that not all Northwest wheat growers are behind C.A.F.T.A.-D.R. The Idaho Grain Producers Association opposes the deal. That is because, in part, many of those wheat and grain growers also grow sugar beets. And it is the sugar industry that is the biggest opponent to C.A.F.T.A.-D.R. Their opposition is discussed in our next program.