WTO negotiations should not dictate agric policy, says farmers' union
US - The National Farmers Union board of directors has urged members of Congress to look after the well-being of America’s family farmers and ranchers by developing a farm bill beneficial to rural America and not trade negotiators.
20 June 2007
2 minute read
In a letter sent to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the US Senate and House Agriculture Committees, Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee and the NFU board said that they were concerned that as a last ditch effort to propel and extend Trade Promotion Authority, the administration may seek a WTO agreement that unfairly and unjustifiably reduces the safety net for US farmers.
The NFU also said that using a safety net reduction as bait to entice trading partners did not look after the economic well-being of U.S. family farmers and ranchers.
The Union beleives that as various proposals are debated, neither existing nor potential trade agreements should dictate the terms of the final legislation. It says that doing so would deny members of the House and Senate, as well as the rural residents they represent, a voice on critical agriculture and rural policy matters.”
