USMCA trade deal could cost Georgia produce growers nearly $900 million, report says
Source: cnbc.com
Published 3 hours ago
Key Points
Unless the proposed U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement is changed, it could “cause extensive economic damage to Georgia” and its fresh produce industry, according to a report from the University of Georgia.
“While the deal may be an overall positive for the United States, it exposes U.S. fruit and vegetable growers to a high risk of substantial harm through unfair competition from Mexican imports,” the UGA report said.
The report also said there’s the potential for “catastrophic damage” to Georgia growers from the USMCA, including annual economic losses for the industry that could approach nearly $900 million.
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The report projected annual economic losses to Georgia’s small fruit and vegetable industry under USMCA could be $340 million to nearly $900 million. It also said there could be job losses of about 3,300 to more than 8,600 under the proposed replacement to the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement.
According to the report, Georgia’s blueberries usually have a market presence in Northern states ahead of local producers due to climate advantage. Similarly, it said Georgia’s climate is ideal to grow fall vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, and eggplant...........................
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was not available for comment. Perdue is a former governor of Georgia and agribusinessman.
President Trump Meets With China's Vice Premier Liu He
Sonny Perdue, U.S. secretary of agriculture
Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images
But he recently defended the Trump administration deal.
“Not only does USMCA expand market access for commodities and crops, but also the agreement specifically addresses agricultural biotechnology, including new technologies such as gene editing, to support innovation and reduce trade-distorting policies,” Perdue wrote in a guest column this week in the Gazette paper in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.............................................
Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/07/usmca-losses-to-georgia-growers-could-reach-about-900-million-report.html
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MEXICO-LABOUR-FARM WORKERS
Farm laborers work at a tomato field in Los Pinos, San Quintin Valley, Baja California State, Mexico on April 23, 2015.
ALFREDO ESTRELLA | AFP | Getty Images
= new reply since forum marked as read
who will hide the bad news and report on the massive success of red don's economic policies!
How much will it take for farmers to wake up?
