Up next, the president s of a large farm and Ranch Association of the News Conference to voice support for the north American Free trade Agreement Agreement known as nafta which is being renegotiated this month. [inaudible] good afternoon trade and will roger, director policy communications at the farm bureau federation. Today, negotiators for three Member States of nafta will begin renegotiating a treaty that is more than 20 years old, much is at stake, particularly frager culture. Today, we have with us the three heads of the largest farm organizations in canada, mexico, and the United States. There for my right, zippy, president of the American Farm bureau federation. President of the Canadian Federation of agriculture, bosco, president from the mexico federation. They will give their views of what should happen with modernization of nafta. Regardless of what you may have heard there still a great deal that are three nations have in common and can agree upon. The president s would give their opening remarks come after that will have a signing of a letter to investor light heiser and administer freeland and the secretary, the chief negotiators for the treaty. After that, will open the floor to questions. If you have a question at the press club please wait with the microphone so people on the phone can hear the question that youre asking. The floor is yours. Thank you. And i think all of you for attending today. This is a very important day to american agriculture, canadian and mexican agriculture. We come today to shore unity together. I want to thank her counterparts for being with us today and help in joining us to talk about the modernization of the nafta trade treaty. I want you gentlemen and everyone in the room here today to know that American Farmers and ranchers value our trade relationships with her two closest neighbors. Canada and mexico are more than just close, they are number one and number three customers of the United States, Agricultural Products and experts in there also the top two suppliers of u. S. Agriculture imports. Clearly, our trade relations are important to all of us on the stage. We have a vital interest in helping our neighbors make improvements, negotiators make improvements, but also to do no harm to the gains that we have gained in nafta. We are committed to preserving and expanding upon the gains agriculture has achieved and ensure a modernized nafta continues to be a Success Story for north American Farmers and ranchers. We all want timely enforcement trade agreements and prompt resolutions to disputes that might arise in this new modernization treaty. Usta for jacks the experts will hold 137 billion, the forecast of agriculture impacts of 100. 5 billion, given a trade surplus and agriculture products and yes, i set a surplus of 22. 5 billion. So for all the criticisms of our trade deals, when agriculture one art negotiators to know the trade deals and open markets are largely beneficial to American Farmers and ranchers into the communities we live in and do her business in and reserve families. There will be opportunities during these negotiations to talk about issues concerning us with commodity, its important to enter these talks with cool heads and focus on the common goals that we have, the three groups here agree that trade helps all of our citizens in all of our farmers and ranchers are countries. We look forward to a better agreement for the future is modernized for my modern agriculture. Thank you. Next, we have ron, president of the Canadian Federation of agriculture. Thank you. Thank you to the American Farm bureau for the hospitality. We had the opportunity to have lunch before the press conference and give us an opportunity to exchange views on where things are going. I think between mr. I think we realize theres Common Ground that we can build on. This morning we heard the ministers and secretaries make opening remarks on the renegotiation of nafta. Its interesting in the opening comments that we heard the word agriculture a number of times. With our leadership in the countries recognizing that agriculture is important, we, the farm leaders of all three countries must insist the voices of farmers and ranchers must be heard as the negotiations proceed. I think the press were coming out. I think its a good issue of great importance to the economies of all three countries. Cfa, American Farm bureau and cna in mexico decided several weeks ago the it would be appropriate for us to try to find that Common Ground that we had when we move forward. We prepared a joint statement and subsequent letter to our negotiators based on the principle of do no harm. Frager culture, nafta has been good. If we look at the changes since 1994, trade between our three countries has grown exponentially. We must build on this success. With canada, the u. S. We have 56 billion and restrict acculturated with mexico and canada we have 4. 2 billion and again mexico has a large surplus. Canada is the top export market for 29 u. S. States. Has farm leaders there five areas that we agreed on. One is a focus on increased and improved regulatory alignment the secondary is located at improving the flow of goods that border crossing. The third is further alignment of science based sanitary measures and with that term lets human animal and plant health issues. The elimination of non science based technical barriers to trade is another area we need to concentrate on. And then adapting the agreement to Technology Advances that have been made since 1994. 1994 the internet, Digital Economy and those things were not even thought of. In closing, like to heckle what was said this morning. We are neighbors, partners, and friends. We have a relationship based on trust and understanding agriculture has been a success and remember, do no harm. Thank you. Finally, bosco de la vega. [speaking in native language] we have the privilege of our three secretaries we have been very good signals of work as together as a team. First of all of the georgia meeting where the three of them were present and in mexico where mr. Purdue and were together. Today, the secretaries are a great example of construction and understandable. In respect we are expressing ourselves to the agriculture secretary. I want to remember you that the National Council of agriculture represent the 80 of mexico and the 75 of exports. As well as 1 million growers and producers recognizing United States and canada as great partners complementary. Im the thirdgeneration of growers and we are always having an american or canadian commercial partner. We understand that the primary production is vital for the economy of the three countries. We are the commercial block more successful of the work we will be together more competitive making more stronger the sites in north america we can go out to conquer new markets so in south america and europe the National Council of agriculture, its in favor of the power and commercial, to be more competitive in the National Council of agriculture will be looking always to maintain the competitive in the markets the Community Working for better marketing and access into the three countries. The that should be treated as by product in order of the risk of each one. The organization of nafta should be should be made as strong as the trade in the union. And contribute to the development of the partners. I celebrate the private sectors of the three countries, we are together taking care of the main concerns of the sector. Rehab very clear from the point of view of mexico, and we have been talking with our government but we are not agreeing to be exchange for any other economic activity. Very thankful for all of you being here, especially with your schedules and you can count on mexico and the National Council of agriculture to be together. Thank you very much. Thank you gentlemen. Will now have a ceremonial signing of the letter again jo john. [inaudible] [inaudible] [inaudible] [applause] thank you thank you to the effort of the staff. Thank you. With that, will open up the floor to questions. Please wait for the mics of people on the phone can hear you. Who has a microphone . So just to start off, like to get your reaction to bob light heisers Opening Statement today when he said that although nafta has benefited u. S. Farmers and border communities, but it has fundamentally failed Many Americans and would have to have major improvement that tweaking and updating a few chapters would not be possible. What do concerns does that recently Agriculture Committee in terms of trade off to get those changes . Of course it concerns us that it would be mentioned out of front. But our standards that we do no harm. This is been a good trade treaty for north american agriculture from mexico to canada. We want to make sure that her voice is heard loud and clear that we dont want to harm the gains that weve had in it. The president of the United States is the my president to and is president of all the farmers and ranchers across the country who played a major role to get him more elected. And he promised to make treaties fair to those and it has been good for agriculture. And while there might be some concern theres also positive news for agriculture and the fact that it was very much singled out that agriculture was a shining example of how this success could work. I think back to the statement about do no harm, think we have to ensure that messages their loud and clear. I think in part thats why the three of us decided to quickly that we needed to make a statement to the negotiators that we have something thats working, dont do something in the negotiations is going to undermine that. Thats going to undermine not only farmers and ranchers, but all of the jobs that are related to farmers and ranchers and all three countries. [inaudible]. A mention was made of approving regulation and abandoning other regulations of barriers to a trade would you elaborate what you mean by that . I also get the impression from the american side that you all would be better off if trump never raise this issue in the first place and i will pass by a microphone to my colleague. A . Question i was recently in florida they have a lot of perspective on nafta yet to be very concerned directing the questions about some of the concerns with the mexican in shipments of liberates wages in mexico food Safety Standards so i am wondering is there anything you could do to address those concerns about sending bad press saw what areas do you see under discussion that would create some of those concerns of the of florida growers . First talking about technical barriers that could be a number of things of harmonizing regulations and herbicides to make sure that with that approval not going through those series of groups and talk about technical barriers and one of the things we discussed that lunch was the idea of the inspection services. And to be improved in one country one should suffice not every time it moves across the border per coach so to streamline the cost for producers and for the consumers of those products. Back to that area of building on what has been working touse streamlined up process of regulations and technical barriers so worried closed to new privatization privatisation. Spaking speaking spanish. Translator em with that topic and based on science we agree in the controversial solution with the labor topics we consume from each country and mexico has an agreement ended is working very hard. When it comes to woo those farmers in florida the those northeastern Dairy Farmers of course, we have concerns. And that communication and is through the secretarys office and where there are issues that we are rarely a region and that is important with future negotiations. And forward those to you tell each other we have a problem. And in the northeast and in florida and in certain areas but then lets have rules around this treaty that has with decisions on how we solve these problems because that means money to our farmers. And find solutions to do it quickly. And then they will have their own. And mexico has winners and losers. With those cornyn and bean growers in mexico and rice of that serious problem of competitive and the. And racine we are seeing the volume spandex the to mention in chapter 19 hits is mandatory to have a mechanism in place that doesnt have some type of format to have that trade agreement and from our perspective with that dispute resolution is critical Going Forward. So to talk about that improve flow of goods, is that with Border Security and your concerns about that . I can get that from a canadian perspective so what we find is a holdup which is a delay of several hours to get that preapproved clearance with Electronic Filing using all of those new technologies available and everybody is preapproved recognizing the world we are living in you have to have security clearance and we saw everybody going through the line and they go through a lot faster so that is a similar type of approach that were now doing a border entry for people. So we will leave that up to the experts that we can speak to those experts and it is important that it comes in very good quality and that is determined how quickly and how swiftly at the waters borders. I believe we have the commitment of National Security and of that certification in with that supervision at the border. That association and to give us the security to contribute to the safety. And instead we have some questions on the phone. The first question and comes from reuters cohead. Caller hello thanks for taking my call. Are they concerned about the trumpet administration fixation on reducing trade deficits that might hurt those ag interests . Of course we share that concern that our approach is to voodooed no harm we went from 8 billion in america the to 38 billion in and we wont do no harm will even to make a better for all three countries. And we will leave that up to the experts to have that conversation. We do not want them to use us as a trading tool. And then to create much more balanced regional want to see agriculture sacrificed because we a done such a rugged job. And then to be penalized for that. End negative that is the deficit. And that we believe 70 percent. It is from the north american companies. And mexico has only 40 in the region. And it has an integration. So in that sector we have Canadian Companies investing in mexico but they are exporting it. Net change value with those exporters with canada or the United States. There is some important commercial partner or a shareholder. I am with politico. Saying they want to finish negotiations as soon as possible because of Upcoming Elections is that a realistic time line . In with those negotiations to be drawn out . Can we discuss this at lunch . [laughter] translator the first one is to conclude the negotiation and that is the sense of the free trade agreement. But if not we will wait for the time being and it will come. That nafta will continue operating. As we say in the very improbable case. And with those rules. And the wto. Canada doesnt have the election as. [laughter] however one of the things it is up to the negotiators to figure out what timeframe when things are finalized but our role is to ensure the farmers and ranchers go through those negotiations but one comment that is made that any discussions that take place in the public and not undermine that confidence because we have former san printers shipping products back and forth and anything that undermines that could hurt that longterm planning. The farm economy really isnt good with that certainty or uncertainty soda here is our desire and wishes of the modernization so lets get our discussions between us should that be the baseline food the beginning of negotiations . Was that we should expect . And with that modernization and real though those 11 countries left and those that continue with the agreement to coordinate with canada and the United States. I am not sure but it and doesnt mind the scope of the modern trade agreement. The post Market Dynamics have changed so would be very difficult to except that as the base Going Forward and that might be something with that. This is where agriculture was interested. I dont think that will be what will happen. So with that question tpp the president withdraw i think those u. S. Farmers are missing out so what did your stance and what does that trouble administration and think about . I think President Trump i have not spoken directly but to hear him talk about those future trade treaties it is very possible. We are hoping the countries are interested in having those conversations to be open to that discussion of the bilateral treaty. We have a question coming in please proceed. Caller thanks for having me at the conference. And with the u. S. Dairy farmers. Added is an area is there a potential . But i b. Geller government has ben very clear with supply management and wind of the themes to gather a joint statement i think we can all identify areas and all that it would be to mention en those three countries to operate in a close relationship and have differences. And then have a healthy discussion around those. One more question. Bin terms of do we know harm where the opposition of the u. S. Government short of withdrawing from the agreement . If he never raised the issues . So when that rhetoric started so that president at has that desire looking for opportunities that is a challenge for us. Would day be better off . We dont know when tell the treaty is negotiated. Have farmers and ranchers across america is better off. So we go into this very optimistic for a ride he wants to with the certainty in the markets. In but they are planning and producing. So to have the opportunity to make a better. If you start swapping off for another business sector or if we put pressure into another country that could do harm to the farmers. Dont try to fix whats not broken nafta is not totally broken. Pedicels with the canadian government realize a lot of stuff has changed and then with the United Nations got together to identify areas to make improvements were very specific. And those types of stains should be updated it does the day looked at but to be very focused on those recommendations will make the is better for farmers in other countries. Translator we celebrate the 1303 organizations of the farm bureau. And to maintain nafta. And from 1994 that they will increase. Youre in the most competitive area and we will make more stronger especially in china. With that competition in north america. So with that fake you for coming in is the pleasure if you have my Contact Information and let us know if you have anything else. [inaudible conversations]. 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