REUNION DEL ACUERDO AGRICOLA TRINACIONAL
HÉCTOR PADILLA GUTIÉRREZ
PALABRAS DE BIENVENIDA
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Lic. José Calzada Rovirosa.-
Secretario de Agricultura Ganadería, Desarrollo, Rural, Pesca y Alimentación de
México.
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Arthur Potts.- asistente
parlamentario del Ministro de Agricultura y
líder de la delegación de Canadá
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Mr. Jeff Witte.- Secretario de
Desarrollo Rural del Estado de Nuevo México
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Lic. Raúl Urteaga, Coordinador de
Asuntos Internacionales de SAGARPA.
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Dr. Enrique Sánchez Cruz;
coordinador en jefe de SENASICA.
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Lic. Roberto López Lara, Secretario
General de Gobierno de Jalisco y representante del gobernador Jorge Aristóteles
Sandoval.
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A nombre de mis compañeros
secretarios integrantes de la Asociación Mexicana de Secretarios de Desarrollo
Agropecuario, les doy la más cordial
bienvenida a esta la Vigésima Cuarta reunión del Acuerdo Agrícola Trinacional y
bienvenidos a Guadalajara capital de nuestro Estado de Jalisco.-
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Se encuentran presentes,
representaciones de 5 Provincias de Canadá, 18 Estados de la Uniòn Americana y
23 de México.
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Es de resaltar que con el liderazgo
de Jeff Witte de los Estados Unidos y de Arthur Potts de Canadà, esta reunión
es la de mayor asistencia y participación de los encuentros trinacionales que
se han realizado.
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Por el esfuerzo y compromiso, a
todos nuestro agradecimiento.
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También agradezcamos a los equipos
de apoyo, el esfuerzo y la perseverancia para llegar con fortaleza a este
encuentro. Gracias a Nathan, Daniel, a Rodolfo Wipe, que se convierte en el
decano de estos encuentros porque con este ha participado 10.
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Bienvenidos todos a Jalisco, Estado
que se ha convertido en la potencia
agroalimentaria de México.
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Como estado somos el principal
aportante al producto interno bruto agroalimentario de México. Somos el primer
productor nacional de leche, carne de cerdo, huevo, alimentos balanceados para
consumo animal, maíz amarillo, maíz forrajero, derivados del maíz, tilapia,
frambuesa, arándano, chía y tequila.
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Somos el segundo productor nacional
de bovinos, maíz blanco, aguacate, morròn, zarzamora y fresa.
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Exportamos alimentos a 58 países y
del aeropuerto de Guadalajara se transporta el 10% de la carga aérea de
alimentos y estimamos que en 10 años se moverá de nuestro aeropuerto el 60% de
la carga aérea de alimentos de México.
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Estimados
amigos: el Acuerdo Agrícola Trinacional que
se ha mantenido constante durante la vigencia del TLCAN y que nos integra en
este momento, creo que no sólo debe mantenerse, sino fortalecerse como un
instrumento privilegiado de cooperación y de integración regional para mejorar
la producción de alimentos y derivados, fortalecer las relaciones comerciales y
producir más riqueza para el bienestar de la población y como medio para para enfrentar con éxito los grandes desafíos
globales.
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La FAO determina que para el 2050
habrá que incrementar la producción de alimentos en un 50%, pero ahora con
menos tierra, menos agua, menos crecimiento económico y volatilidad climática.
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La región que representamos reporta
un balance positivo para México donde las exportaciones totales hacia la zona
norte, pasaron de 54 mil millones de dólares en 1994 a 310 mil millones de
dólares en el 2014, lo que refleja un incremento del 574%.
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En materia agropecuaria pasamos de
3,500 millones en 1994 a más 9 mil millones de dólares en el 2014 casi un 300%
de crecimiento.
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Para
incrementar la producción de alimentos, es necesario revisar la forma de
cultivar los alimentos y gestionar el capital natural, los desafíos ya no sólo
imponen más comercio sino más responsabilidad ambiental. Esto me motiva a
invitar a Jeff y Arthur, a todos los estados representados para que juntos
hagamos de esta reunión una sin precedentes, donde logremos avanzar hacia
nuevos temas que nos ubiquen con un liderazgo diferente que impulse y coadyuve
a transformar y articular más las agendas federales promoviendo políticas
públicas innovadoras para este siglo XXI.
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Nuestra región representa el 26%
del PIB mundial y aporta casi el 40% de la oferta mundial de alimentos por lo
que tiene una responsabilidad mayor ante la creciente vulnerabilidad
alimentaria donde hoy casi mil millones de habitantes en el mundo no podrán
acceder a comida suficiente para tener una vida normal.
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Para
enfrentar los nuevos desafíos, los esfuerzos de cooperación y de integración
deben redoblarse. Las experiencias que hemos acumulado han sido muy destacadas
como el acuerdo de cooperación para el aprovechamiento del agua entre Nuevo
México y Nuevo León, la certificaciónn de capacidades laborales de jornaleros
agrícolas de Guerrero por la
Universidad de Wisconsin, el hermanamiento de ALBERTA con JALISCO para la
construcción del Centro de Valor Agregado y el gran impulso que Estados Unidos
y México le hemos dado al Programa Universitario Bilateral que se encuentra ya
en operación
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Por último,
ahora estamos en la ruta del Acuerdo Transpacifico (TPP) que no solo prevé más oportunidades comerciales sino cambios en la forma que entendemos
las reglas para el comercio y la cooperación e integración. Para nuestra región
no sólo es la incorporación de nuevos y fuertes competidores sino el incremento
en los riesgos de atraer más plagas y enfermedades. En materia de SANIDADES no
tengo duda. debemos de constituirnos como un solo bloque para los efectos de prevención
y de alerta temprana e incluso configurar un Fondo Regional para la atención de
Emergencias sanitarias.
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En todo este contexto el
relanzamiento del Acuerdo Agrícola Trinacional adquiere una mayor relevancia
para darle nuevo impulso a la facilitación del comercio entre la región, a
dejar de lado barreras que no atiendan principios de ciencia y que estén al
margen de los acuerdos firmados, establecer una región dinámica en sus cruces
fronterizos, entre otros aspectos; es por ello que la conformación de un Grupo
de trabajo de alto nivel que nos ayude a identificar estos temas podría ser el
inicio de una renovada relación y de una trabajo común acorde a los desafíos de
nuestro tiempo.
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Deseo finalmente hacer un
reconocimiento al secretario de agricultura de México, José Calzada Rovirosa,
por fortalecer este encuentro con su presencia y reconocer el apoyo invaluable
de su equipo en las personas de Raúl Urteaga y Enrique Sánchez Cruz.
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Ante todas estas consideraciones
solo me resta desear resultados fructíferos en nuestros trabajos para bien de
nuestros países y que disfruten su estancia en esta bella ciudad de Guadalajara.
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MUCHAS GRACIAS
JOINT COMMUNIQUE: November 14, 2015, Guadalajara,
Jalisco. Mexico
Continuing a long-standing province/state
relationship among Canada, the United States (U.S.) and Mexico, the 24th annual
meeting of the Tri-National Agricultural Accord took place in Guadalajara,
Jalisco, Mexico from November 11 to 14, 2015.
State and Provincial delegates from five Canadian provinces, twenty one
Mexican states and fifteen U.S. states worked together to improve understanding
and strengthen collaboration among the agricultural sectors of the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries. Also in attendance were several senior
federal government officials from the three countries.
The Honorable Jose Eduardo
Calzada Rovirosa, Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural
Development, Fisheries and Food for the Federal Government of Mexico, welcomed
the delegates to Guadalajara, Jalisco. He noted the essential role the
Tri-National Accord plays in enhancing partnerships and facilitating
collaboration to address challenges and develop solutions to agricultural
issues across North America. Mr. Arthur
Potts, Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and
Rural Affairs; Secretary Hector Padilla Gutierrez of Jalisco Rural Development and President of AMSDA; and Secretary Jeff Witte, New Mexico Department
of Agriculture and Secretary-Treasurer of the National Association of State
Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) were the delegation leads for each
country.
The Tri-lateral Working Groups on
Harmonization and Rural Development met to discuss areas of mutual interest
such as how the
bioeconomy and bioproducts, as well as research and Extension, have provided
enhanced opportunities for rural development. Delegates also identified the critical
need for emergency planning related to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
and other animal diseases. Mexico,
Canada, and the U.S. highlighted the unique role of the Accord in contributing
to the success of NAFTA and the importance of continuing to maintain strong
relationships. Mexico will lead an enhanced dialogue on developing and sharing
rural Extension and best practices among states and provinces within the Rural
Development Working Group.
The Canada-U.S., Mexico-Canada, and
Mexico-U.S. Working Groups also met to discuss their important bi-lateral trade
relationships. Liberalized trade and regulatory cooperation were discussed,
along with issues including: food safety, climate change, the Trans-Pacific
Partnership agreement, organic standards, Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), pollinators,
and monarch butterflies. The Canada-U.S. delegates approved a joint letter to
be sent to the U.S. and Canadian railways on the importance of an efficient and
reliable rail system to meet international and domestic sales commitments. They also agreed to continue the working
groups on bee health and pollinators, and animal health (formerly the Porcine
Epidemic Diarrhea Virus working group). The Mexico-Canada delegates discussed
market access for beef and approved a joint letter to be sent to APHIS
requesting the restoration of full market access for sheep and goats. The
Mexico-U.S. delegates discussed forming a Port Risk Committee to collaborate on
issues related to cross border movement.
Delegates also discussed the need for ongoing collaboration on a series
of plant and animal health issues.
The delegates reaffirmed the value of
the Tri-National Agricultural Accord as a forum to address trade issues of
importance to all three countries. In addition, the attached joint statements
were agreed to by the respective bilateral and tri-lateral working groups.
During the meeting, Canada extended an invitation
to Mexico and U.S. delegates to attend the 25th meeting of the
Tri-National Agricultural Accord in 2016.
_____________________________________________
Secretary
Hector Padilla, Jalisco Rural Development, Mexico Delegation
______________________________________________
Mr.
Arthur Potts, Parliamentary
Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Canada Delegation
______________________________________________
Secretary
Jeff Witte, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, United States Delegation
24thTri-National
Agricultural Accord Working Group Joint Statements
Tri-Lateral Harmonization
Meeting:
Provincial
and State delegates from Canada, the United States and Mexico have agreed to
the following joint statements.
Tri-National Joint Statement on
the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
Provincial
and State Agriculture Officials from Mexico, Canada, and the United States
commend the federal governments of our respective countries for the successful
conclusion of negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
(TPP). The TPP agreement holds
tremendous promise for greater liberalization of trade and integration,
enabling long-term gains across the region. We encourage cooperation on efforts
to build awareness and understanding among North American agriculture
stakeholders of the impacts and opportunities resulting from the TPP. We commit to continued cooperation as the
agreement proceeds through ratification in national legislatures.
Tri-National Joint Statement on
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Delegates
from Mexico, Canada, and the United States recognize the significant negative
impacts the recent highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak has had on
poultry producers across North America.
We agree to enhance trilateral collaboration on enhanced biosecurity
practices, improve early detection and surveillance activities, and to work
collaboratively to mitigate the impacts of future animal disease incidents.
Delegates also support the establishment of joint zoning initiatives in advance
of disease outbreaks to control highly contagious animal disease outbreaks
while maintaining trade in animal and animal products. We will work together to
facilitate these activities through cross-border communication and sharing
information on best practices and lessons-learned to mitigate the impact future
HPAI incidents or other emerging disease issues may have on North American
producers.
Tri-National Joint Statement on
Pollinators
Delegates
from Mexico, Canada, and the United States recognize the important role
commercially managed honeybees and other pollinators play in crop pollination,
honey production, and ecosystem health across North America. We recognize there are numerous and complex
factors associated with pollinator health, including: parasites and diseases,
lack of genetic diversity, need for improved forage and nutrition, need for
increased collaboration and information sharing, and a need for additional research
on the potential impacts certain pesticides may have on pollinator health.
Furthermore, the countries recognize the need for policies that protect
pollinators must be balanced against the need for pest management products by
the agriculture sector and their responsible use. We encourage cooperation
across North America on state or provincial-level partnerships that seek to
enhance stakeholder collaboration and pragmatic solutions. We fully support
enhanced research to understand, address, and prevent pollinator losses, as
well as additional efforts to improve forage and habitat for pollinators
throughout North America.
Tri-National Joint Statement on
Food Safety
Delegates
from the United States, Canada and Mexico recognize the important role food
safety plays in trade between the three nations. We agree to continue to
cooperate as implementation of new food safety requirements proceeds and to
look for additional opportunities for collaboration. In particular, we
emphasize the important role of the Tri-National Accord to facilitate efforts
to harmonize food safety requirements in North America, and the value that may
have in facilitating the development of a potential global model.
Mexico-Canada Bilateral Meeting:
Mexico-Canada
Joint Statement on U.S. Country of Origin Labelling
Delegates from Canada and Mexico recalled that the United States (U.S.)
mandatory Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) has been found to be non-compliant
with the U.S. WTO obligations as it continues to discriminate against Canadian
and Mexican agriculture and livestock.
COOL also erodes the integrated livestock and meat processing industry
that supports jobs and exports in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Delegates reaffirmed that a failure by the
United States to bring its laws into compliance with WTO obligations is likely to lead to
retaliatory trade restrictions by Canada and Mexico against a wide variety of
U.S. products, expanding beyond agriculture goods. Delegates believe that further trade
restrictions do not solve the problem and add nothing to the economies of
Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Delegates
therefore encourage the U.S. Congress to move swiftly to pass a legislative
solution to COOL that will remove the discrimination and damages caused by
current legislation.
Mexico-U.S. Bilateral Meeting:
U.S.-Mexico Joint Statement on
Organic Equivalency Negotiations
State
Agriculture Officials from Mexico and the United States recognize the
importance of the organic products trade between both countries, as well as
Mexico’s new organic certification program and ongoing negotiations between the
U.S. and Mexico on an organic equivalency arrangement. We support the swift and
successful conclusion of an organic equivalency arrangement between both
countries and the successful implementation of Mexico’s new organic
certification program.
U.S.-Mexico Joint Statement on
Monarch Butterflies
State
Agriculture Officials from Mexico and the United States recognize the
importance of efforts to alleviate challenges impacting the Eastern North
American Monarch butterflies’ migration route, which extends from much of the
U.S. through concentrated areas in Mexico.
These challenges include deforestation, forest fires, illegal logging
operations, and others. We encourage the
development of public-private partnership initiatives to enhance education,
awareness, and habitat restoration in order to facilitate the monarchs’
migration route and preserve their overwintering habitats. We also urge
additional research and bi-lateral collaboration to forward
scientifically-sound conservation efforts to promote and preserve monarch
habitat.
Canada-U.S. Bilateral Meeting:
U.S.-Canada Joint Statement on
U.S. Country of Origin Labeling
Delegates
from Canada and the United States (U.S.) had frank discussions on the current
World Trade Organization dispute over U.S. mandatory Country of Origin Labeling
(COOL) between Canada, Mexico and the United States. Canada and Mexico’s federal governments have
signaled likely retaliatory trade restrictions if not resolved against a wide
variety of U.S. products, expanding beyond agricultural goods, following the
WTO decision finding U.S. COOL requirements a violation of the U.S.’s
international obligations. While the
U.S. Congress has taken action this summer to move toward an appropriate
legislative resolution, we request continued, timely movement toward a
resolution that will avoid the institution of retaliatory tariffs.
U.S.-Canada Joint Statement on
Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC)
Provincial
and State Agriculture Officials reaffirm our support of the United
States-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC) initiatives focused on the
agriculture sector, which includes work on zoning, pesticides and veterinary
drugs. We are pleased with the progress
that has been made to date to better align regulatory approaches between Canada
and the United States. Under the new phase of the RCC (Joint Forward Plan),
work at the federal level continues on the agriculture initiatives. While these
issues will be removed from the official Canada-U.S. bilateral work plan, we
will continue to engage with stakeholders for input, to inform strategies,
identify priorities and discuss progress on the implementation of initiatives
as appropriate.
