148 



ters of increased imports causing or threatening to cause serious injury and related 

 economic issues. 



The Council has commented more fully on the supplemental agreements in a sep- 

 arate document filed with the committee on September 17, 1993. 



II. SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY STANDARDS 



The Agribusiness community appears unanimous in agreement that the strong 

 sanitary conditions adhered to by U.S. agriculture should not be compromised by en- 

 tering into NAFTA, and national standards and enforcement of all three countries 

 should be equivalent. The Council continues to be vigilant against the arbitrary use 

 of standards to interfere with the free flow of imports, and are satisfied with 

 NAFTA's treatment of this point. (Article 712(3) and (4)). 



The Agribusiness Council advocates rigorous enforcement of sanitary and 



Ehytosanitary standards in Mexico so that agricultural products exported to the 

 Tnited States will be safe for consumption in this country. Moreover, we oppose 

 Mexican agricultural producers receiving a competitive advantage over U.S. produc- 

 ers by virtue of having weakly enforced sanitary standards and a low cost of compli- 

 ance. 



III. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN COMMODITIES UNDER NAFTA 



Some commodities, such as peanuts, milk, and sugar, which have been protected 

 under Section 22 of the Agricultural Adjustment Acts, will face more competitive 

 market conditions under NAFTA. Also facing increased competition from Mexican 

 products under NAFTA will be citrus fruit and winter vegetables. 



The Agribusiness Council has discussed the impact of NAFTA on these commod- 

 ities in detail in its comments filed with the committee on May 25, 1993. In sum- 

 mary, our view, enhanced by conclusion of the Understanding on Emergency Action, 

 is that the existing safeguards, including the tariff rate quotas, and special safe- 

 guards, provided for certain commodities, coupled with long transition periods, up 

 to 15 years, and additional antisurge protection, should be sufficient to protect these 

 import-sensitive commodities under NAFTA. 



Nevertheless, we do not oppose the effort underway by U.S. Trade Representative 

 Mickey Kantor to negotiate more favorable terms with Mexico for sugar and fruits 

 and vegetables. ("Inside U.S. Trade," August 6, 1993, at 1). 



IV. CONCLUSION 



The Agribusiness Council reaffirms its strong support of the North American Free 

 Trade Agreement as a pact that will provide increased export opportunities and in- 

 come growth for a broad spectrum of agricultural and agro-allied industries. 



We urge this committee to recommend Senate approval of the NAFTA agreement, 

 subject to the supplemental agreements concluded on August 13, 1993, on environ- 

 mental and labor standards and import surges. 



National Association of State Departments of Agriculture 



Good morning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee. I am 

 Robert L. Walker, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture. It is a 

 pleasure to appear before this committee today on behalf of the National Association 

 of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) as Chairman of its World Trade Com- 

 mittee to discuss the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NASDA is 

 the nonprofit association of public officials representing the Commissioners, Sec- 

 retaries and Directors of Agriculture in the fifty States and the territories of Amer- 

 ican Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. As the chief State agri- 

 culture officials, NASDA's members are keenly aware of the importance agriculture 

 plays in their State's and the Nation's economy. 



NASDA supports all efforts to expand foreign trade, including the adoption of 

 NAFTA. NASDA believes the NAFTA will have a positive impact on the agricultural 

 industry of the United States. State Commissioners, Secretaries and Directors of Ag- 

 riculture reaffirmed their support for the NAFTA at NASDA's recent annual meet- 

 ing in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire. The public officials called on Congress to 

 pass implementing legislation to enact the trade agreement. 



AGRICULTURAL TRADE BOOSTS U.S. ECONOMY 



Expanding foreign trade has long been a priority for the U.S. agricultural indus- 

 try. Overseas exports directly help the American farmer by providing additional 

 marketing options and improved income. U.S. agricultural exports generate employ- 



