[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 144 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H9046]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE EFFECTS OF NAFTA AND FAST-TRACK

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to extend his remarks at 
this point in the Record and to include extraneous matter.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, since NAFTA has begun, Florida 
agriculture has lost in excess of $1 billion; Florida tomato farmers 
have alone lost $750 million.

  So much for level playing fields and reduced tariffs. According to 
the O'Conner & Hannan law firm of Washington DC, ``For tomatoes, the 
losses are clearly due to the dumping of Mexican tomatoes in the U.S. 
market as determined by the Commerce Department. The primary cause of 
the injuries to Florida agriculture is NAFTA and its ineffectual 
safeguard provisions.''
  The Florida Department of Citrus has further informed me, that after 
3 years of NAFTA, Florida citrus is still not even allowed into Mexico. 
How is this possibly free or fair trade?
  Congress needs to stand up to this destruction of American industries 
such as agriculture.
  The administration and the proponents of granting renewed fast-track 
authority have failed to articulate the economic imperative of granting 
such authority.
  Trade deals should be negotiated when possible on a case-by-case 
basis and given the stature of a formal treaty.

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