In the same breath, they are saying publicly that they will immediately file a new case, and that the only public interest at stake here is their own narrow interest in raising prices — not those of consumers, the U.S. government or U.S-Mexican relations.
Apparently, they like their chances in an election year to ratchet up their level of protection, and would choose politics over the investments they refuse to make.
It has been 18 years since NAFTA went into effect, with the goal of reducing trade barriers and friction between the U.S. and Mexico.
The tomato agreement has helped realize that goal in trade of fresh fruits and vegetables. That agreement also wisely put mechanisms in place for addressing concerns and issues without reigniting a trade war.
Now, at a time when fair trade is needed most as the national economy struggles to recover, those mechanisms should be used and a new trade war averted.
The U.S. government, exercising the discretion it has under the law, should reject this political subterfuge and let the agreement continue to work.
It is time to tell Florida no.
Jaime Chamberlain is the president of Nogales, Ariz.-based J-C Distributing Inc., a U.S. importer of fruits and vegetables.
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