Letter to the Editor

TRADE DEAL: Hurts rural communities

Will the proposed new trade deal be good for Idaho farmers and ranchers and the nation as Farm Bureau wants us to believe? The international trade commission’s report on the economic impact of the USMCA on the American economy is out. The ITC states in part: NAFTA was fundamentally flawed upon its inception.

Its provisions empowered multinational Beef Packers to indiscriminately displace domestic cattle and beef production with cheaper, undifferentiated imports of both cattle and beef. This is contributing to the hollowing out of America’s rural communities.

The proposed USMCA incorporates NAFTAs fundamentally flawed provisions. It is expected that the USMCA will now cause the elimination of the critical mass of competitive marketing channels and industry infrastructure needed to sustain an independent family farm and ranch system of cattle production in the U.S. Why Farm Bureau has taken a position on an international agreement which undermines one of our most important industries as well as our constitution is inexplicable.

A phone call to your senators and congressmen would certainly be in order. A phone call to President Trump asking for his reconsideration on the USMCA would be in order also. His message phone is 202-456-1111.

Robert Vickaryous

Bonners Ferry