02/03/05 Delegation sour on CAFTA sugar provision

Senator Mike Crapo says he doesn't like the sugar provisions in CAFTA, the Central America Free Trade Agreement. CRAPO "Although I do very strongly support the general direction that the agreement heads in terms of reducing tariffs and trade barriers across the board on other commodities." That's why he's not committing to a vote one way or the other. But it's pretty clear how both of the state's congressmen will vote. Mike Simpson opposes CAFTA, which he thinks will destroy the Idaho sugar industry. He doesn't think this trade agreement will get Congressional approval and not just because of Democratic opposition. SIMPSON "And you add those to the individuals that represent the sugar growing states, sugarbeets or sugar cane I think there's a pretty good majority that's opposed to CAFTA and I think that the administration has a pretty tough sell there." Congressman Butch Otter says part of the problem is that US trade negotiators don't really have any agricultural background. Typical, a conversation Otter had with one of them recently. OTTER "Without sugarbeets out potato crops are in serious jeopardy. Without sugarbeets some of our other row crops are in serious jeopardy. He says, 'well, we didn't understand that.'" That's why Otter says its time that people who have an agricultural background, who know farming and ranching, should be part of the US trade negotiating teams. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott