General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums'New NAFTA' is full of old policies that wreaked havoc on American farmers
This new deal is an especially great victory for our farmers, President Trump said of the proposed amendments to NAFTA. His administration is rebranding the deal as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. But, no matter how hard he may try, the president cant rebrand the actions and sentiments at the heart of his deal, which continues his legacy of caring more about the appearance of success than about actually aiding the voters who got him elected.
Announcing the deal at a Rose Garden ceremony, Trump was flanked by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin (former hedge fund manager) and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer (former corporate lawyer). That was entirely appropriate since USMCA is an agreement drafted with huge corporate agribusinesses not farmers in mind. And this latest handout to corporations not only undermines independent agriculture, but puts your family in harms way too.
Absent from the deal is any effort to restore transparent labeling on meat products. Thats despite the fact that my organization, Public Justice, ranchers across America, and even Fox News all begged the administration to use the NAFTA negotiations to fulfill its earlier promise to restore country-of-origin labeling. These labels which existed for years identify where meat was born, raised, and slaughtered. They provide consumers information they desire, and correspondingly increase the income of domestic producers who make the products U.S. consumers prefer.
Canada and Mexico challenged the labels before the WTO, and Congress removed the requirements to avoid retaliatory tariffs (a cruel irony given our current trade policies). Thus, a NAFTA renegotiation was the perfect opportunity to restore this policy that Congress, consumers, and farmers all support. Yet, embodying the style over substance standard that defines this administration, the revisions to NAFTA only change the headings of the sections, reproducing the exact same rules.
Where the Trump administration could have increased ranchers competitive position and aided consumers, it instead only secured the tools that would allow it to disingenuously claim action where, in fact, there was none.
The sole true concession Trump secured for ranchers is one the North American Meat Institute praises because it enables nearly complete integration. Translation: It allows a select few corporations that already control our meat supply to further solidify their lock on the industry at the expense of farmers. Worse still, it actively endangers the American public.
https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/410595-new-nafta-is-full-of-old-policies-that-wreaked-havoc-on-american
Achilleaze
(15,543 posts)NoSmoke
(69 posts)was little more than protectionism.
As well, giving American dairy greater access to Canadian markets would do practically nothing to solve the gross American dairy over-supply situation. As I understand it, American dairy farmers want, and need, a supply management system similar to Canada. The alternative is a whole bunch of them, especially small producers, going out of business.
lark
(23,123 posts)Hence, the just renaming the headings and not touching the meaning except where he makes it worse. I guarantee you he's getting something personally from this, besides the approval of his also totally ignorant and hate filled base.
FakeNoose
(32,655 posts)Yo Mama I know you didn't write this, it's posted on the OP article.
The past tense of wreak is "wrought," it's one of those crazy irregular verbs that everyone avoids.
It's the proofreader in me, even though I'm retired now. I just can't help myself. Sorry!