A handful of farm groups says the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation goals favor corporate agribusiness over family farmers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Politico reports that a coalition of farm groups argues that increasing exports won’t replace the need for fair prices in disputes such as the one over Canada’s dairy supply management system, along with eliminating restrictions on genetically engineered crops. The group includes the U.S. National Family Farm Coalition, Canada’s National Farmers Union and Mexico’s National Association of Rural Producers, as well as the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. Officials with the Mexican National Association of Rural Producers says the “whole process should begin with a thorough, independent evaluation of NAFTA’s economic, social, environmental and governance impacts,” adding “the new NAFTA should support local farming communities.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.