Thousands of Mexican farmers, some riding tractors and herding cows, converged on Mexico City yesterday to demand government protection against cheap U.S. imports.
Trade barriers under the North American free-trade agreement were lifted in January, opening Mexico for the first time to tariff-free U.S. exports of traditional food such as corn and beans.
Mexican farmers complain the government of President Felipe Calderon is not doing enough to protect them against highly subsidized U.S. goods.
Protesters are demanding Mexico renegotiate the treaty with the United States to maintain protections for corn and beans.
Long lines of slow-moving tractors choked highways from rural areas toward Mexico City for a march toward the main Zocalo square in the city centre.
Since NAFTA took effect in 1994, corn tariffs have gradually been phased out and imports of U.S. yellow corn to Mexico, mostly used in animal feed, have soared. They now account for close to 35 per cent of Mexican consumption.
Mexican farmers fear a lack of trade barriers will encourage highly mechanized U.S. farms to start producing white corn, which has been Mexico's main crop since the Aztec times and is a staple food.
Opposition legislators who support the rural sector have called for the resignation of Agriculture Minister Alberto Cardenas for failing to do enough to support farmers.
In an effort to dampen criticism, Mr. Cardenas announced on Wednesday an expansion of cash supports to meat and egg producers to buy corn for animal feed, since international prices for the grain have skyrocketed in recent months.
Mr. Cardenas said the negative effects of the trade deal for corn and wheat growers will be offset by high international prices on increasing U.S. demand for ethanol.Globe and Mail / Reuters
