03/05/08 Calls for NAFTA reform

On both sides of the US-Mexico border there are people who say the North American Free Trade Agreement needs to be renegotiated. Mexican farmers say NAFTA has hurt them. American blue collar workers say NAFTA cost them and now they don't have a job. Idaho Senator Mike Crapo who voted against NAFTA 14 years ago says some ag industries like sugar have taken more of a hit than others. CRAPO "NAFTA has been both good and bad for Idaho agriculture depending on the commodity and depending on the time at which you evaluate it." Crapo says he supports what he calls 'good' trade agreements and wants to see more of them. American Farm Bureau's Chris Garza says NAFTA has been a benefit to US agriculture because Mexico and Canada are now our number one and two ag export markets. Garza says it's a bad idea to talk about renegotiating NAFTA. GARZA "Canada and Mexico will have their issues that they want renegotiated as well and at the end of the day it could be US agriculture that ends up coming out with the short end of the stick." US agricultural trade with our neighbors to the North and South jumped 32 percent last year. Trade with Mexico and Canada totaled 30 billion dollars last year, three times the pre-NAFTA level. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott