Jeffords And Leahy Urge Bush Administration
To Carefully Consider Effects Of U.S.-Australian Free Trade Agreement

 ...Trade Agreement Could Cost America More Than 150,000 Dairy Industry Jobs

WASHINGTON (Wed., Jan. 28) -- U.S. Sens. Jim Jeffords and Patrick Leahy today joined U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D -Wisc., in introducing a Senate resolution that urges the Bush Administration to proceed with caution when pursuing any U.S.-Australia free trade agreement. 

Vermont’s Senators worry that any agreement the Administration may want to enter into with Australia could have a devastating effect on the U.S. dairy industry, especially Vermont's small dairy farms.  According to the National Milk Producers Federation, a trade agreement could lead to a flood of imports from Australia and New Zealand and could cost the U.S. nearly one-quarter of its dairy farms and 150,000 jobs.

“Any trade agreement that allows a significant increase in dairy products from overseas could ruin our small dairy farms,” said Jeffords, I-Vt. “We must do everything in our power to preserve those farms, which are such an integral part of Vermont’s economy and landscape.” 

"The potential of a sudden increase in foreign milk imports could be disastrous for dairy farmers across the country," said Leahy, D-Vt.  "It is especially important to Vermonters given the volatility of milk prices and the thin profit line Vermont dairy farmers operate on."

Last week, Jeffords and Leahy joined a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the President expressing their concern about trade negotiations with Australia.  Unfair treatment of dairy in the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) could concentrate Australia's exporting focus largely on the U.S. If the U.S. gives Australia significantly increased access to the U.S. dairy market, it will greatly undermine milk prices, thwarting federal efforts to support dairy producers and their families.

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Related Links:

Jeffords, Leahy Call on President To Protect Dairy Farmers in Trade Negotiations January 21, 2004