[NYTr] Mexican Farmers Wage War on NAFTA Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:48:31 -0600 (CST) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Prensa Latina, Havana http://www.plenglish.com Mexican Farmers Wage War on NAFTA Mexico, Dec 19 (Prensa Latina) Mexican farmers have reinforced criticism of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and declared a state of war against its agricultural chapter. The deal Mexico signed with the US and Canada establishes that, from January 1, 2008, taxes on agricultural imports will be eliminated, a move considered fatal for Mexican farmers. Free entry of corn, bean, milk, sugar, and other foods, particularly from US subsidized producers, will result in unfair competition for the failing Mexican rural sector. Though the agricultural item of the agreement has not been implemented yet, imports have already increased by 50 percent, causing unemployment and affecting millions of Mexican farmers and food security. The National Council of Rural Associations announced they intend to form a human barrier on the US border to block entry of such harmful purchases for the Mexican rural economy. Meanwhile, the National Confederation of Farmers sustained an initial figure of about 1.40 million grain growers will enter a severe crisis due to the invasion of US and Canadian producers. According to that group, the US will rapidly supply nearly 90 percent of the beef to be consumed in Mexico, 50 percent of beans, and 100 percent of oleaginous products, thus destroying national food security. dig jrr mf PL-2 * ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us Our main website: http://www.blythe.org List Archives: http://blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ Subscribe: http://blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr =================================================================