Peru Trade Deal Threatens U.S. Vegetable Growers

by Webeditor — last modified 2007-10-22 16:54

Peru Free Trade Agreement Will Hurt America’s Vegetable Growers

The Peru Free Trade Agreement is based on the same flawed agriculture policies that have already threatened U.S. tomato, bell pepper and cucumber growers in the United States under the North American Free Trade Agreement. The Peru FTA would provide permanent access to the U.S. market for Peruvian fresh and processed vegetables as well as other crops. American vegetable farmers would be especially vulnerable to Peruvian fresh and processed vegetable imports since Peruvian asparagus, green pea, and onion imports are already significant and growing. American vegetable companies are already investing in processing plants in Peru to take advantage of lower farmland, labor, and environmental costs.

Peruvian subsistence farmers will also face fierce competition from low-priced American exports, especially rice, corn, and chicken. NAFTA drove more than a million Mexican farm families off their land as cheap corn imports undercut the production of the national food staple. There are more than 3 million Peruvian agricultural workers and 26 million rural Peruvians that could be directly affected from increased U.S. exports of staple foods.

Peru veggies chart Fresh and processed vegetable imports from Peru are already growing under current trade agreements that have given Peru duty free access to the U.S. market since 1991. The proposed Peru FTA could increase these imports. The Peru FTA could likely spur increased investment in vegetable processing operations in Peru and facilitate increased imports of prepared vegetable products. For example, major American processors like Green Giant and Del Monte have relocated several asparagus processing plants to Peru since 2003.

Over the past decade, fresh and processed vegetable imports from Peru have surged. The volume of fresh and processed vegetable imports from Peru have increased six-fold from 55.6 million pounds in 1997 to 353.4 million pounds in 2006. The United States is a net importer of vegetables from Peru, importing 7.5 times as many fresh and processed vegetables from Peru as it exported there in 2006. That has generated a large and growing vegetable trade deficit with Peru, meaning the dollar value of vegetable imports is larger than the dollar value of vegetable exports to Peru. The U.S. fresh and processed vegetable trade deficit with Peru grew more than seven-fold over the past decade from $27.2 million in 1997 to $203.6 million in 2006.

Many U.S. vegetable farmers grow crops that compete with Peru’s harvests and exports –– including fresh and frozen asparagus, fresh onions, fresh and processed green peas, artichokes, and other processed vegetable products. The current higher prices many farmers are enjoying could sour when imports of fresh and processed vegetables increase under the Peru Free Trade Agreement.

Take Action

Tell your members of Congress to vote NO on the Peru Free Trade Agreement! To contact them, call the Congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

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Take Action Say no to more factory farms! Explore Further Europe Latin America Africa Global Trade Trade Agreements World Trade Organization An Alternative Framework Food and Global Trade FAQ World Water Deutsch Español Francais Polski Portuguesa Press In The News Food & Water Watch Hands Petition to Members of Congress Calling for Continued Ban on Chinese Chicken Food & Water Watch Disputes Obama Administration’s Reliance on Trade, Biotechnology to Combat Global Hunger and Poverty FDA Fakes a Passing Grade More >> See all headlines >> See all headlines >> Help Us Grow	Peru Trade Deal Threatens U.S. Vegetable Growers by Webeditor — last modified 2007-10-22 16:54 Peru Free Trade Agreement Will Hurt America’s Vegetable Growers Click here to get the PDF The Peru Free Trade Agreement is based on the same flawed agriculture policies that have already threatened U.S. tomato, bell pepper and cucumber growers in the United States under the North American Free Trade Agreement. The Peru FTA would provide permanent access to the U.S. market for Peruvian fresh and processed vegetables as well as other crops. American vegetable farmers would be especially vulnerable to Peruvian fresh and processed vegetable imports since Peruvian asparagus, green pea, and onion imports are already significant and growing. American vegetable companies are already investing in processing plants in Peru to take advantage of lower farmland, labor, and environmental costs. Peruvian subsistence farmers will also face fierce competition from low-priced American exports, especially rice, corn, and chicken. NAFTA drove more than a million Mexican farm families off their land as cheap corn imports undercut the production of the national food staple. There are more than 3 million Peruvian agricultural workers and 26 million rural Peruvians that could be directly affected from increased U.S. exports of staple foods. Fresh and processed vegetable imports from Peru are already growing under current trade agreements that have given Peru duty free access to the U.S. market since 1991. The proposed Peru FTA could increase these imports. The Peru FTA could likely spur increased investment in vegetable processing operations in Peru and facilitate increased imports of prepared vegetable products. For example, major American processors like Green Giant and Del Monte have relocated several asparagus processing plants to Peru since 2003. Over the past decade, fresh and processed vegetable imports from Peru have surged. The volume of fresh and processed vegetable imports from Peru have increased six-fold from 55.6 million pounds in 1997 to 353.4 million pounds in 2006. The United States is a net importer of vegetables from Peru, importing 7.5 times as many fresh and processed vegetables from Peru as it exported there in 2006. That has generated a large and growing vegetable trade deficit with Peru, meaning the dollar value of vegetable imports is larger than the dollar value of vegetable exports to Peru. The U.S. fresh and processed vegetable trade deficit with Peru grew more than seven-fold over the past decade from $27.2 million in 1997 to $203.6 million in 2006. Many U.S. vegetable farmers grow crops that compete with Peru’s harvests and exports –– including fresh and frozen asparagus, fresh onions, fresh and processed green peas, artichokes, and other processed vegetable products. The current higher prices many farmers are enjoying could sour when imports of fresh and processed vegetables increase under the Peru Free Trade Agreement. Take Action Tell your members of Congress to vote NO on the Peru Free Trade Agreement! To contact them, call the Congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Related content Crops in Crisis: Green Peas, Northwest to the Midwest Peru Trade Deal Threatens U.S. Asparagus Growers U.S. Pea Farmers at Risk From Peru Trade Deal U.S. Onion Farmers at Risk from Peru Trade Deal Fact Sheets Casino of Hunger: How Wall Street Speculators Contributed to the Global Food Crisis Global Land Grab Undermines Food Security in the Developing World Biotech Diplomacy: How US Embassies Are Pushing GMOs Throughout Europe Colombia Trade Deal Threatens U.S. Flower Growers Regulation Degradation more... Reports Casino of Hunger: How Wall Street Speculators Fueled the Global Food Crisis — During 2008, rising food prices — accelerated by ... Where's the Local Beef? — Local beef. Sustainable sausage. They’re what a ... The Poisoned Fruit of American Trade Policy — Food & Water Watch Report - Poison Fruit of Ameri ... What’s Behind the Global Food Crisis? — The 2008 global food crisis is compromising the su ...