Domestic Policy

Congress Unfair With Farmers In Regards To Peru Legislation

December 11, 2005 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

American asparagus growers have complained to congress for some time about the impact of the 14-year-old Andean Trade Preferences Act. They feel that America’s own policy has put its citizens in an unfair position to compete in a volatile vegetable trade market. Asparagus growers in Washington, Michigan, and California, are upset over a free trade agreement between the U.S. and Peru that they feel puts them unjustly in an unfair trade environment.

The growers have advised that they will try to spoil a free-trade agreement between the U-S and Peru because the deal makes no provision for limiting asparagus imports into the U.S. Many farmers fear that the free-trade agreement between the U-S and Peru could lead to a regional agreement that would grow to include Colombia and Ecuador. This would devastate the domestic American market for home grown Asparagus.

As part of the war on drugs, America dropped trade barriers to encourage Andean farmers in Peru to grow legal crops instead of coca plants that are used to make cocaine. Many feel American citizens; the farmers in particular, are being unfairly punished because of Peru’s lack of control on their own domestic issues. The growers say they cannot compete in an unfair marketplace. How can America enact a policy that helps a foreign country while punishing its own citizens?

Today it’s Asparagus; tomorrow it may be what you do for a living. You should take the time to be more active in your local government, do something to protect your future. Utilize our contacts list to find your elected officials, contact them and let them know you are vigilant. We also have a link to a new feature that allows you to enter your zip code and find out who the largest outsourcing companies in your area are.

Peru trade deal angers U.S. asparagus growers

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