ALFA Endorses CAFTA

Good for them. From the B'ham News:

The Alabama Farm Federation's board of directors on Monday passed a resolution supporting the Central American Free Trade Agreement, saying it would level the playing field for the state's farmers and agricultural businesses.

"In terms of advantages of CAFTA for Alabama, it is clear that the lowering of high tariffs in the Central American region would benefit several Alabama products," Alfa President Jerry Newby said...

CAFTA would be particularly beneficial to the state's poultry, beef, pork, peanut and cotton farmers, according to the group. Alabama poultry exports now face duties as high as 164 percent in Central American countries, Alfa said.

It will be interesting to see whether the ALFA endorsement will provide political cover for Alabama's majority-Republican congressional delegation to support the free-trade pact.

Rep. Artur Davis (D., Birmingham) reiterated his opposition to CAFTA in this editorial appearing in Sunday's Birmingham News. Davis claims that the proposed agreement "deserts our values as Americans, and it constitutes a failed opportunity." This National Review editorial argues convincingly that Davis and other CAFTA opponents are wrong.