Colombian farmers question FTA with US
Colombian Farmers Question FTA with US
Bogota, Oct 27 2005 (Prensa Latina) Rafael Mejia, president of the Colombian Association of Farmers (SAC), asserted his entity would not support a free trade agreement (FTA) with the US if farmers do not benefit from it.
"There has been a poor agricultural balance in FTA talks," stated Rafael Mejia, adding that the government has had a historic responsibility in the negotiations that will close in November.
Mejia said the SAC would fully validate and back the commercial deal if the Colombian administration accomplishes what it has vowed: to benefit the agricultural sector.
Before opening FTA talks in May 2004, he noted, the SAC defined three key issues: the true access of our products to the US market, defensive means to counteract aids granted to US farmers and reduction and elimination of subsidies on farm product exports.
Hernando Jose Gomez, representative of Colombia for FTA negotiations, asserted his government was evaluating the US counteroffers, based on the Colombian farmers’ demands.
