R-CALF comments on NAFTA

[SASH]

Cattle Alert: R-Calf Statement Regarding NAFTA Chapter 11



(Billings, Mont.) – The following statement should be attributed to R-CALF USA President and Founder Leo McDonnell:



“It is unfortunate that a frank discussion of the failures of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will not be part of the summit tomorrow between the leaders of Canada, Mexico and the United States.



“For example, the Chapter 11 provisions of NAFTA – which grant foreign corporations and producers greater rights than U.S. citizens at special international tribunals – must be rewritten, both in NAFTA and in future trade agreements such as the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).



“Right now, the Canadian Cattlemen for Fair Trade (CCFT) are using NAFTA’s Chapter 11 to try to place pressure on the United States’ independent judicial system by claiming they are due up to $1 billion Canadian dollars in compensation. Rather than taking steps to solve their problems with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or “mad cow disease”, this Canadian business group is demanding to be paid for the closure of the U.S.-Canadian border to live cattle exports into the United States.



“The Canadian border remains closed because on March 2nd, U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull decided that there are significant health and safety dangers from BSE. In his formal opinion, Judge Cebull wrote: ‘Allowing the import of Canadian cattle into the U.S. increases the potential for human exposure to material containing the agent for BSE in this higher-risk meat. This has substantial, irreparable consequences for cattle growers and also for all consumers of beef in or from the U.S.’



“R-CALF USA believes the border should remain closed until the Canadians initiate higher safety standards and a more comprehensive testing regime to ensure public health. Why should foreign entities like CCFT be allowed to use an international tribunal of NAFTA to pressure our courts to undermine the health and safety standards of the U.S. consumers?



“Oddly enough, CCFT’s claim has been lodged against the very U.S. government that is trying to open the border to Canadian cattle and beef.



“We understand that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and R-CALF USA are on opposing sides of the Canadian border issue. However, we believe a greater principle is at stake here. The U.S. government should recognize and acknowledge the separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of our government, and stand up for the independence of the U.S. judicial system by opposing the NAFTA Chapter 11 case brought by this group of Canadian cattlemen.



“Foreign entities should not have the ability to attack U.S. standards. Trade agreements like NAFTA should be a force for progress and a force for raising health and safety standards, rather than abused as a tool to lower those standards.



“We urge President Bush to work with his foreign counterparts to correct the inadequacies of Chapter 11 in NAFTA before those who seek to manipulate the rule do real harm to U.S. citizens.



“Chapter 11 is one of the many reasons that NAFTA is a poor model for future trade agreements such as CAFTA. R-CALF USA will continue to oppose CAFTA until that agreement can be renegotiated.”

[Maple Leaf Angus]

Obviously a big league thinker.

[Tam]

don't you love the part where he said ]“Foreign entities should not have the ability to attack U.S. standards. Can I ask why R-CALF can attack ours? We have proven ours are higher with a proveable compliance rate. I think Leo should take a look at the High US standards and the compliance to the rules again.

[Oldtimer]

[cowsense]

Oldtimer- I find it quite puzzling when you repeatedly state that the science on BSE flipflops around. It's not American, Canadian, Japanese or European science but rather the recommendations put forth by the OIE for all countries to follow. This science is formed and reviewed by working panels of veterinary experts and is endorsed by 167 countries worldwide including the US. The working protocols address the subject of food safety and international trade and have remained very consistent. Canada if anything is exceeding these regulations in every way ( proven by international inspections) despite your protests to the contrary!

The very existence of these recommendations is to discourage the use of nontariff trade barriers and to depoliticize trade issues!

[Oldtimer]

[cowsense]

OT... The only part of the OIE guidelines that Canada (and the US) is not in compliance with for minimal risk designation is the start of the 97 feed ban. HOWEVER the OIE definately states that the 8 year rule can be waived if a proper risk analyses is conducted. The Harvard Risk Assessment was carried out and confirmed our eligibility as a minimal risk country. This has since been confirmed by USDA/APHIS and NCBA as well as many other of our trading partners.

[Manitoba_Rancher]

OT,


You should really sit down and give your head a damn shake. Do you not realize there could be a huge BSE outbreak lurking in some part of the USA? How would you deal with this? If a lot of packing plants got lured out of US into Canada and then you had a few BSE cases. What would you do? And to top this off you get your slaughterplant access cut off when Canada closes the border. And there was to be free trade under NAFTA. And some horses@ss group was keeping the border closed so they could keep their pockets full. Wouldnt you be a tad upset? If feedlots were loosing millions and going broke, wouldnt you want to sue the Canadian government? Get real!

[Oldtimer]

[Oldtimer]

[Manitoba_Rancher]

OT,

I think the water in Montana must be bad as your loosing your mind!

[Oldtimer]