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Tennessee fresh-water shrimp farmers wary
of Central American Free Trade Agreement
About
17,000 shrimp grow in John Litz's one-acre
pond in Hamblen County. The farmer, who
is a state representative for Morristown,
says they'll turn into about a $1,000 profit
at harvest this fall.
"We
farm to make a living, and to make a living
we have to have money," says
Litz. But as he feeds his investment, Litz wonders
how much longer it'll be profitable if Congress
passes the Central American Free Trade Agreement.
Fresh water shrimping just started catching
on in Tennessee about five years ago, but
opponents of the free trade agreement fear
if CAFTA passes, the state won't be able
to hang on to this industry.
"If CAFTA does pass, I think this is
pretty much over for me," says Litz.
The group Americans for Fair Trade says
CAFTA will drive the family farmer off his
land.
Ernest Baynard is on a regional tour visiting
Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina telling
people why he thinks CAFTA is a bad deal.
"We've lost almost a million jobs to
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement),
our farm economy's been hurt by NAFTA, CAFTA's
more of the same," says Baynard.
The CEO of the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership
sees things differently.
"In order for us to sell to other buyers
throughout the globe, we have to be willing
for them to sell to us," says Mike Edwards.
Proponents of CAFTA point out most Central
American exports already come into the U.S.
duty free, but U.S. products face heavy tariffs
there. Edwards says breaking down trade barriers
will help level the playing field.
"We don't need to have our markets
locked out to where we're shut out of other
foreign markets," says Edwards.
Those who call CAFTA a raw deal and those
who call it the right deal, predict a close
vote in the U.S. House. It passed the Senate
last week 54 - 45. If CAFTA is signed into
law, it would be phased in during the next
decade.
Mark
Schnyder, Reporter
WBIR-TV, an NBC Affiliate
Knoxville, Tennessee
http://www.wbir.com
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