Re Sal and Avocados
Charles Benbrook (benbrook@hillnet.com)
Thu, 24 Aug 1995 08:09:27 -0400 (EDT)
Sal, the dispute made the Wall Street Journal today (a little front page
note). Some advice on how to frame your arguments to achieve your goal.
Focus on the likely impacts on U.S. grower and state/municipal gov't
expenditure increases to deal with greater frequency and severity of
quarenteen activities, trapping, spraying; on the public health and
environmental consequences of marked increase in pest. applications; on
the possible loss of biological control systems now working effectively
in area; on the quality, safety and evenness of supply of product if the
U.S. industry is driven pout of business and consumers become dependent
on foreign sources, which may not keep up with demand and may be subject
to future import limitations because of pesticide residues or bug
contamination.
You hurt your case actually by raising the "fairness" issue and
whinning about the impacts on farmers in the U.S. NAFTA is being used
aggressively by the U.S. to open the Mexican market and many
producers/businesses down there feel the same way, but under the rules of
the game, the borders MUST open unless there are reasons not to that are
compelling and NOT linked to a bogus safety/phtyosanitary issue. Sounds
like there is solid evidence of real problems with pest infestations.
USDA bears a heavy burden to accept the claims of the Mexican gov't that
things are under control down there. IF USDA says they are and lets the
fruit in, and a quarenteen action follows that hits you and other
growers, you should sue USDA for compensation, and you should tell them
upfront that this will be your response if USDA lets in fruit which ends
up ruining U.S. producers. I think you will stand a good chance of
getting compensation; others have when some trade-driven development has
led to unexpected and dire economic consequences.