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GATT, Mexico removed its import licenses on stone fruit. Mexican phytosanitary 

 concerns leading to an import ban on stone fruit are invalid because Mexico offered 

 to trade their action for U.S. changes on avocado phytosanitary restrictions. 



Center for Rural Affairs 



Biggest adjustments of NAFTA will be made by small Mexican farmers and rural 

 laborers. Winners in Mexico will be fruit, vegetable and animal agro-export sectors 

 able to form joint ventures with U.S. agribusiness who will be the biggest winners. 

 Also concerns with effect of agreement on emigration and sustainable rural develop- 

 ment. Recommends the phase out of CCC concessional sales of basic agricultural 

 commodities in Mexico; create a North American Rural Development Commission to 

 confront rural poverty and make public investments; and ensure that U.S. stand- 

 ards on pesticide use and registration do not become a competitive disadvantage. 



Cherry Marketing Institute, Inc. 



The Institute's main concern is not a surge of Mexican cherries (none produced), 

 but the transshipment of cherries from the EC through Mexico. NAFTA must con- 

 tinue strong prohibitions against transshipment of dumped EC product. The insti- 

 tute is also concerned about the overall effect the agreement will have on the State 

 of Michigan. 



Cigar Association of America, Inc. 



There are two flaws in the agreement. One is inadequate protection of intellectual 

 property rights. A number of Mexican cigar companies have adopted the trademarks 

 of U.S. cigars that no longer compete in the Mexican market. To resolve this prob- 

 lem the agreement should recognize the first trademark registered in North Amer- 

 ica. The second problem is the increased tariff that will be assessed to U.S. cigars 

 (it jumps from 20 percent to 50 percent after import licenses are terminated) and 

 the phaseout over 10 years. The tariff should be phased out over 5 years. 



CoBank 



Strongly supports the agreement and believes that it will be of significant impor- 

 tance to most agriculture sectors. It also worked closely with and supports the Agri- 

 cultural Policy Advisory Committee's report on the NAFTA. Its main concern is the 

 financial services section of the agreement. Currently CoBank can only finance the 

 export and import activities of its customers in foreign countries. It wants to be able 

 to expand its business into financing joint ventures and the export of value-added 

 agricultural products, not just agricultural commodities. 



ConAgra 



Fully supports the agreement. The NAFTA will increase Mexican incomes, and 

 the elimination of trade barriers will expand the Mexican market for U.S. products. 

 ConAgra does not agree with the argument that low labor costs will draw U.S. jobs 

 to Mexico. Instead, it sees Mexico's location, poor infrastructure, and unproductive 

 labor force as reasons for keeping facilities in the United States. 



Cottongrowers Warehouse Association 



Endorses National Cotton Council statement. Summary of issues include that 

 there must be a determination of how increased NAFTA quotas would be affected 

 by a quota triggered under the farm bill; more provisions on accession of other coun- 

 tries to NAFTA; statement that U.S. farm law provisions for cotton do not violate 

 the agreement's provisions on domestic and export subsidies; and others. If NAFTA 

 is to be an economic plus for U.S. cotton, there must be growth within the apparel 

 sector within the NAFTA; and the United States must be the primary supplier of 

 raw materials. 



Daulton Ranch 



There are several issues that need to be addressed and monitored closely. Trans- 

 shipment of cattle through Mexico already occurs and strict rules of origin must be 

 established to prevent this from continuing. It must be assured that Mexico's regu- 

 lations are transparent, and Mexico must be required to adopt a meat import law 

 similar to that of Canada or the United States. 



David Bateman 



Many agriculture commodities that are the backbone of the American economy 

 will be devastated by NAFTA and GATT. Enclosure statistics for several crops in 

 North Carolina to show that there is little profitability in these sectors after land 

 value is deducted. 



DEE— Ag Consultant 



In the long run the agreement will be beneficial. Some regulations must be tight- 

 ened, especially those dealing with pesticides that are illegal in the United States 



