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Resources >> Asparagus Commission and WFTC Joint Peru Letter

October 15, 2007

To: Senators and Representatives in Washington State

The Washington Fair Trade Coalition and the Washington Asparagus Commission are writing to you to express our opposition to the pending US-Peru free trade agreement (FTA). We wish to share with you reasons for opposing this FTA.

The Peru FTA falls on the heels of the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA). While this act had laudable goals, we have some concerns about whether its consequences have been as positive as expected. One of the costs of the ATPA has been the collapse of the Washington asparagus industry. We believe that the experience of the ATPA, and the expected harmful effects of the Peru FTA, demonstrate clearly the need for trade policy that is fair, flexible and favorable to sensitive industries.

Both the Washington Fair Trade Coalition and the Washington Asparagus Commission believe that global trade is important, and has the potential to have a positive impact, both in the US and in the countries around the world with which we trade. However, we also recognize that all trade has winners and losers, and that it is essential to craft trade policy carefully so as to maximize benefits and minimize harm. Our organizations believe that much of global and US trade policy has been focused on benefiting large industries and investors, while small or sensitive groups in all countries have often suffered difficulties in adjusting to these agreements.

We believe that US trade policy must do at least three things:

1. It must be flexible. We can no longer accept that simply lowering tariffs and crafting “one size fits all” agreements is all that is needed in good trade policy. Good trade agreements must be written in ways that are sensitive to the needs of all affected parties. In the case of the Peru FTA, the agreement is completely inflexible regarding the needs of Washington asparagus farmers, whose interests were not recognized in this agreement. While outright protectionism is not a good strategy, flexibility to protect sensitive markets at certain times and in limited ways can be helpful and indeed essential. We ask that you work with us to include language that is sufficiently flexible to allow both sides to win.

2. It must ensure a thoughtful “360 degree” consideration of consumer interests. In Washington State, as elsewhere in the country, there is a burgeoning movement to support locally grown and sustainably-harvested foods. Indeed, it is hard to ignore the clear signal that many Washington consumers have a preference for and want to support local production. The FTA flies in the face of what consumers are increasingly asking for.

3. It must pay more attention to the needs of “the little guy.” While large corporations, including agribusiness, are able to lobby and help shape the details of FTAs, smaller organizations and producers lack this influence. Thus, it is the duty of US Congress to ensure that they investigate potential impacts on small producers in this country, and in our trade partner countries as well.

Since the Peru FTA is not flexible, responsive to important consumer interests, nor attentive to the needs of small producers and sensitive industries, we cannot support this agreement. We urge you to vote against this FTA – and all forms of trade policy that fail to fulfill these criteria. Fair trade policy needs to create broad-based economic well-being, not simply increased trade.

US trade policy has the potential to have a positive impact for Americans and our trade partners. When it will not do so – and there is significant evidence to indicate that the Peru FTA will cause harm in several important sectors – it is your responsibility to vote against such policies.

The Washington Fair Trade Coalition and the Washington Asparagus Commission urge you to vote against the Peru FTA. Asparagus farmers of Washington stand as an illustration of a larger problem with the way agriculture is handled in NAFTA-style FTAs. We look forward to working with you in the future to support truly just and beneficial trade policy.

Sincerely,

Alan Schreiber, Executive Director, Washington Asparagus Commission

Allan Paulson, President, Washington Fair Trade Coalition

606 Maynard Ave S • Suite 252 • Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 227-3079   •   Fax: (206) 405-4602
Email [remove spaces when using]:  info @ washingtonfairtrade.org
 
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