PRESS :: Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Judith Redmond, 530-796-2214
George Davis, 707-433-6321
Norman Kline, 209-863-1224

CAFTA Will Hurt California Family Farmers and Ranchers

CAFF letter to all California representatives (PDF: 36kb)

CAFTA Will Hurt California Family Farmers and Ranchers

DAVIS (April 22, 2005) ­ Concerned that the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) will hurt California family farmers and ranchers, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) board of directors sent a letter to the California Congressional delegation urging them to oppose the proposed trade agreement. “We understand that international trade is important to California’s economy,” stated CAFF President Judith Redmond. “But we feel strongly that the CAFTA trade agreement will only continue to expand the negative impacts of previously adopted trade agreements.”

“Labor costs are a major component of California agriculture,” said Redmond, a farmer at Guinda. “Yet CAFTA does not implement enforceable requirements for participating nations to achieve International Labor Organization standards with regard to labor issues.”

CAFTA will enable countries and international corporations to continue to exploit workers holding down their standard of living and opportunities. In addition, CAFTA does not establish a timeframe or enforcement procedures to harmonize environmental standards with U.S. levels, does not address exchange rates and does not provide for balanced and fair reduction in tariffs nor market access.

“We must stop this race to the bottom in sectors that include the economy, the environment, human rights and social justice,” added George Davis, owner of Porter Creek Vineyard, Sonoma and CAFF vice president.

In 2003, the U.S. agricultural trade deficit with the five CAFTA countries was more than $900 million. CAFTA may result in even greater trade deficits with a direct economic stress on the livelihood of California fruit and vegetable producers.

CAFF in their letter to the California Congressional delegation pointed out that concerns relative to the CAFTA trade agreement are not based in partisan politics. CAFF referred to a national poll conducted by the national public opinion and public affairs research firm of Ayres, McHenry and Associates, Inc. “The poll found that 51 percent oppose the CAFTA trade agreement altogether and only 32 percent support it,” stated Norman Kline, a fruit grower from Riverbank and CAFF board member.

California’s agriculture contributes significantly to California’s economy. “CAFF urges the California Congressional delegation to oppose CAFTA, until the concerns are addressed. CAFTA will have a negative impact on California’s family farmers, on our environment and on our ability to provide good jobs at fair wages,” concluded Redmond.

The Community Alliance with Family Farmers, a state wide progressive non-profit organization, whose membership includes family farmers and ranchers, citizens of metropolitan and rural areas, working together to foster family-scale agriculture that cares for the land, sustains local economies and promotes social justice.

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