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Gulf Citrus Growers Association 



transportation infrastructure will serve to bring about rapid expansion in production 

 over the period covered by the agreement. 



This expansion should not, and need not, be achieved at the long-term expense 

 of Florida citrus growers. We urged negotiators to maintain U.S. tariffs for a period 

 of 20 years followed by an immediate elimination is an appropriate and effective way 

 to address NAFTA's negative effect on the investment made by Gulf Citrus growers. 

 This would give growers adequate time to recoup their substantial recent 

 investments. Existing plans for large scale expansion are seriously being 

 reconsidered; these growers now seek to prevent losing existing investment and to 

 phase down operations, if necessary, in an orderly fashion. Eliminating tariffs after 

 20 years would have also provided for a more level playing field for citrus exports 

 once tariffs are eliminated. It would provide the U.S. and Mexico a realistic amount 

 of time to harmonize pesticide and environmental regulations and standards and for 

 Mexico to better enforce them. 



However, NAFTA as currently written does not to take the economic realities 

 of citrus production into account. Gulf Citrus Growers view the following elements 

 as necessary to an acceptable NAFTA: 



1) Safeguard mechanism which provides for a tariff rate snapback to MFN 

 rates when Mexican import prices fall below specified levels. 



2) Harmonization of all Mexican labor and environmental standards; no 

 tariff reduction until harmonization is accomplished. 



3) Strict enforcement of all phytosanitary standards. 



4) Accurate and timely mechanism for gathering information on Mexican 

 cirrus production, processing and packing shipping to prevent transshipment to third 

 countries. 



Without the inclusion of these elements, Gulf Citrus is not able to urge its 

 representatives in Congress to support the present agreement. 



