Senator Bob Graham on NAFTA

uh huh. Uh huh, uh huh. Uh, uh huh. Mm uh Uh huh. Mhm. Uh, yeah. I mean, we're struggling to get back on our feet. It's really they're really kicking us while we're down. Our biggest obstacle in convincing the farmers in South Florida to replant is not Hurricane Andrew and the potential recurrence of one.

But it's Hurricane NAFTA for the ramifications and all of this country. Uh, there are a lot of teas and eyes that need to be looked at very hard. They've got 90 days to do it. It's scary. It's not frustrating. It's scary. Hurricane NAFTA. That was the scary message that blew into Washington this week as Florida's commissioner of agriculture and industry leaders called for change in the proposed Mexican Free Trade Agreement.

Florida farmers say they're the only state in direct competition with Mexico because of their identical growing seasons. But Mexico has cheaper labor and fewer environmental regulations unfair and manages that could devastate Florida's agriculture. Florida farmers have a right to be very concerned. Our state will compete the most directly of any with the kind of products that will be coming out of Mexico and will be stimulated in larger quantities by the free trade agreement.

Testifying before the House committee on Agriculture Commissioner, Crawford estimated the proposed pact could cost Florida more than 50,000 jobs at a time when Florida is still economically aching from Andrew. Other industry representatives were quick to point out that there are more than just economic threats. Food safety is one of the biggest ones.

If you ever go to Mexico, the first thing you travel agent and tell you don't drink the water and don't eat fresh fruits and vegetables, you're gonna send different ones over here. I don't think so. The bottom line. Florida wants modification to the agreement, and until they get them, they're urging Congress to vote against Mexican free trade in Washington.

I'm Nelson Pew, reporting part of farmers, are very concerned about the effects of NAFTA and Florida. Is there any hope to influence the agreement? At this point, Florida farmers have a right to be very concerned. Our state will compete the most directly of any with the kind of products that will be coming out of Mexico and will be stimulated in larger quantities by the Free Trade agreement.

What I'm doing as the chair of a group of 19 Southern and Western senators who have similar concerns is developing a list of what our major criticisms of the treaty are, which we're going to submit to the president and ask that the president used this three months time period that we're now in the review and comment period to go back to the Mexicans and Canadians and try to renegotiate on some of those items that are causing so much concern to Florida Agriculture Center.

One of the biggest concerns is that we're going to lose control of our own food supply and depend on a foreign source for our winter fruits and vegetables. Is that a valid public policy concerns? I think that's a valid public policy. Concerns also is the issue of parody of production standards.

Are we playing on a level field? I'm convinced that Florida agriculture can compete with anybody. If we're all playing by the same rules, we cannot do it, Uh, if we are limited to six players and they have 11. So what we want to be sure is that were treated fairly in terms of what's in US food production interest, and that our farmers have a level playing field upon which to compete.

Thank you very much. Good luck here