AAM Takes Positions

COOL: We totally support the concept of having country of origin labeling on all imported products. We have pursued this goal for 23 years. We support R-CALF USA and all its work on COOL. We think it is a health issue when it pertains to food. It is doable, and the extra work and cost to the importers and processors is necessary for the health and safety of the American consumer.

WTO: The American Agriculture Movement, Inc. has watched the proceedings of the WTO for years. The last agreement on Agriculture should be called the Cargill agreement. Daniel Amstutz, former Cargill V. P. drafted the original text of the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture. It opened southern markets and converted peasant farming to corporate farming, a primary goal of Cargill. It is an agribusiness treaty. WTO rules are not leading to efficiency as they would like you to believe, they are distorting production and trade. Low prices are closely connected with monopoly in agribusiness instead of overproduction. The issue is distorted production. We need to learn about the amber box, blue box and green box which is a conveniently crafted mechanism by which some subsidies are left untouched, excluded from the reduction commitments of the WTO.

FTAA: Free Trade Area of the Americas is not a good thing. It will destroy jobs, family farms and eliminate local control. This free trade policy is an all out race to the bottom where corporations will seek the lowest labor costs and least restrictive environmental laws. We could loose all local control. State laws could be challenged, safe working conditions done away with and U.S. jobs will disappear faster than they already are.

WE NEED FAIR TRADE
NOT
FREE TRADE