27th Annual Conference of the New England Governors and the Eastern Canadian Premiers

WHEREAS, the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers are committed to liberalizing and expanding cross-border trade within the Northeast region so as to enhance productivity, economic growth and prosperity; and

          WHEREAS, the Governments of the United States and Canada have taken significant steps to liberalize trade in agriculture in the North American Free Trade Agreement; and

          WHEREAS, agriculture is vital to the prosperity of rural communities in New England and Eastern Canada; and

          WHEREAS, open borders are necessary for the many producers in the Northeast region; and

          WHEREAS, dialogue among state and provincial agricultural authorities in the Northeast region can improve understanding of trade issues and irritants and contribute to their resolution; and

          WHEREAS, many issues confronting agriculture are common across jurisdictions in the Northeast region; and

          WHEREAS, Commissioners of Agriculture of the New England states and Ministers of Agriculture of the Eastern Canadian provinces initiated a productive dialogue at a meeting in Portland, Maine on December 14, 2001; and

          WHEREAS, the Conference’s Trade and Globalization Committee noted the issues discussed at the December 14th meeting of Commissioners and Ministers of Agriculture; and

          WHEREAS, New England states and Eastern Canadian provinces participate actively in the work of the Tri-national Agricultural Accord, which pursues the goal of preventing and reducing irritants in agricultural trade between Canada, the United States and Mexico.

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers note the Commissioners and Ministers’ meeting and encourage them to continue their efforts to strengthen cross-border trade in the Northeast region; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers direct their respective Commissioners and Ministers of Agriculture to meet in Prince Edward Island in the fall of 2002 t

   
• identify impediments to cross-border trade of agricultural products and recommend mutually acceptable solutions,

   
• share information and experiences on best practices in areas such as food safety, pest management and environmentally sound farming methods,

   
• pursue any other opportunities for collaboration that could benefit agricultural producers in the Northeast region; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT Commissioners and Ministers of Agriculture be directed to submit a report of this meeting to the 2003 Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers.

 

Adopted at the 27th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, August 25-27, 2002.