Daily News Update, Feb. 8, 2008

NCBA asks Congress to reject "managed trade" proposal

NCBA, along with 37 other agriculture and food groups, sent a letter to Congress opposing legislative language which would manage the trade of sugar with Mexico.

"Adopting managed trade with Mexico would effectively amend the free trade provisions of NAFTA by instituting export and import restraints," says the letter. "Moreover, this managed trade proposal contains other international trade violations that could subject the United States to challenge and unravel the free trade opportunities that the U.S. agricultural sector worked so hard to achieve."

"This proposal could set a dangerous precedent," said NCBA's Director of Legislative Affairs Stacey Satterlee. "Furthermore, this kind of political maneuvering could open the door for Mexico to enact similar policies at the detriment of other U.S. commodities. We must protect the lucrative trading relationship we have established with Mexico under NAFTA."