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Nafta at 12Nafta at 12 The North American Free Trade Agreement turns 12 on January 1, 2006. Is the transition to almost teen status a marker of maturity or the start of a troublesome period in the drive for freer trade? The US and California agriculture have been largely staunch supporters of free trade, but that may be changing. Nafta was approved in the 435-seat House by 34 votes, while Cafta was approved by 2 votes. California exports about 20 percent of its farm commodities, but support for freer trade may be waning, especially among producers facing increased competition at home and abroad. This conference examines the promises and pitfalls of freer trade for California agriculture. The focus is on Nafta, which expanded trade in farm commodities between Canada, Mexico, and the US as expected. However, barriers to trade in farm commodities remain, and there are long-running disputes over specific commodities, including Canadian wheat and cattle and Mexican tomatoes, avocados and sugar. Some of the most significant effects of Nafta have been in the Mexican countryside, which is experiencing a Great Migration to urban Mexico as well as to Canada and the US. We have reserved rooms at the Sacramento Hilton at the special rate of $84 plus tax. These rooms must be reserved by December 20, 2005, and we are the UC-Giannini Group, code SDA. The hotel has ample free parking, especially in the rear, which is near the ballroom in which the seminar is being held. There is a registration fee of $75 that includes the meals and breaks on the agenda as well as conference materials; registrations received will be acknowledged with receipts and conference materials. If you would like to participate, please send a check made to UC Regents to Philip Martin, Dept of Ag and Resource Economics, 1 Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616 before December 13, 2005. We are grateful to the Giannini Foundation for support of this conference. 8AM Registration and continental breakfast 9AM Welcome and introduction, David Zilberman, UCB 9:15AM Assessing Nafta, Cafta, and the FTAA. Chair, Philip Martin, UCD Speakers 25 minutes each, 25 minutes for Q and A 10:15AM Break, breakfast still available 10:30AM Trends in Specific Commodities, Chair, David Zilberman, UCB 12PM Lunch, 21st Century Trade in Specialty Commodities (TBA) 2PM Nafta's People Impacts, Chair, Colin Carter, UCD 4PM Adjourn ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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