SASH
Well-known member
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."
(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."
