Trade news gives boost to state's ag industry

This editorial appears in the Oct. 28, 2011, Yakima Herald-Republic.

News out of Washington, D.C., isn't always good for farmers, but a couple of developments earlier this month actually will make life easier for Yakima Valley growers and the people who depend on them for jobs.

Both were long in coming. On Oct. 12, Congress ended a four-year drought in approving new trade partnerships as it ratified free-trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. Two days later, a Mexican trucking firm received a permit to deliver goods inside the United States.

The South Korea, Colombia and Panama agreements were the biggest deals since the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994. The Mexican truck accord arose out of a pilot program that was once a part of NAFTA.

Apple, cherry and potato growers in Washington stand to benefit from the new deal with the three countries, with South Korea being the largest market. The deal would eliminate an 18 percent tariff that South Korea had imposed on the state's potato growers and processors. Supporters claim the deal with the three countries will create another 70,000 jobs in the United States.

The Mexican trucking issue caught this state's growers and workers in a crossfire of a battle not of their doing. Labor pressure prompted Congress to eliminate funds for the NAFTA pilot program, and Mexico imposed the retaliatory tariffs in 2009. The 20 percent tariffs initially targeted 90 American products, including cherries, pears and apricots, with apples joining the list in 2010. Losses to growers have run into the tens of millions of dollars.

It took years to get to this point in both developments, far too long in a fast-moving global economy. But these moves will allow this state's agricultural industry to compete on a more-even playing field -- given that chance, the outcome should be favorable down the road for a linchpin of this state's economy.

* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Sharon J. Prill, Bob Crider, Frank Purdy and Karen Troianello.