These groups included the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Florida’s legislative delegation.
The negotiation goals outlined by the USTR support priorities that FFVA has expressed to the administration on behalf of specialty crop agriculture.
“FFVA looks forward to working closely with the administration on a comprehensive strategy that aligns near-term remedies with longer-term NAFTA specialty crop reforms to provide the Florida industry with lasting protections against unfairly traded Mexican produce,” FFVA President Mike Stuart said.
Although the objectives may not deliver the short-term relief the Florida industry needs, they appear intended to be responsive to Florida’s NAFTA goals. The 13-page list includes a mix of conventional and unconventional trade goals, but it broadly captures FFVA’s priorities. Some excerpts:
- Improve the U.S. trade balance and reduce the trade deficit with the NAFTA countries.
- Seek a separate domestic industry provision for perishable and seasonal products in antidumping/countervailing duty proceedings.
- Preserve the ability of the U.S. to vigorously enforce its trade laws, including the antidumping, countervailing duty, and safeguard laws.
- Require NAFTA countries to have laws governing acceptable conditions of work with respect to minimum wages, hours of work, and occupational safety and health.
- Include general exceptions that allow for the protection of legitimate U.S. domestic objectives, including the protection of health or safety and essential security, among others.
- Through an appropriate mechanism, ensure NAFTA countries avoid manipulating exchange rates in order to prevent effective balance of payments, adjustments, or to gain an unfair competitive advantage.
