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5. Standards: From a compcutive siandpomt. Florida agncullurc is grcallv concerned about the 



diflcTCDccs in envuonmental. food safety, and labor regulations between the United Slates and Mexico. 

 The cost of compliance with these laws and regulations are a major factor in the cost of production for 

 Florida asriculture. The mdustry had requested harmonization of applicable laws and regulations m 

 order to balance the compcxitive playing Geld between the two nations. Although the agreement 

 encourages the adoption of imcmatimuii slandartls, it allows each party to csubli&h its own rules. The 

 agreemcDt mntt be modined to reqniK barmoointion of standards-related measures within 10 years 

 of the implefflcnutioo date. In addition, the agreement must be modified to require equitable 

 enforcement of each nation's laws and regulations regarding the production of goods and services. 



4. Sanitary and Phvtosanltary Regoiatloiis: The NAFTA confirms the right of each nation to adopt and 

 nrninfum sanitary and pbytosanitary measures necessary to proiea htunan, animal or plant life. The 

 agreement most ensure that U.S. agricultare continues to be protected bttm the introduction of 

 harmful pests and diseases that could threaten human, plant or animal health. 



5. Transshipment and SubstJtution: The induscry expressed c o nce rn that non-participating countries in 

 the NAFTA would ship prodticts throtigh Mexico or Canada into the United States and receive the 

 benefits of the agreement. The NAFTA contains rules of origia designed to prevent such abuses. It 

 is essential that the agreonent contain strong enforcement mechanisms. The agreement does not 

 prevent the substirulion of non-participant products from being used in a member's country so that the 

 member country's production can be shipped to another member. The agreemeit must ensutr the 

 practice of substitution is not utiUxed by a member coimtry to the detriment of another coembcr 

 country. 



6. Data Collection: The indtistiy is concerned with the lack of adequate, reliable information on Mexican 

 agricultural production. The agrecMeat mntt be modified to indodc a requirentcat that Mexico 

 devetop completr startitiol Infbnnatloa oa Its agrtnittnral sector in areas such as acre^e, yield, 

 conanmptioD, trade, etc. 



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