FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   Contact: Kasey Cronquist, CEO/Ambassador

      California Cut Flower Commission

      (805) 696-5000

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October 12, 2011

RE: California Cut Flower Commission statement on passing of Free Trade Agreements

MEDIA STATEMENT

This week, the House Ways and Means Committee passed the U.S.-Colombia, Korea and Panama Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with House Committee votes taking place yesterday (Tuesday) with no amendments allowed.   The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) legislation, which passed the Senate on September 22, will be considered with no amendments allowed prior to the FTAs on Tuesday.

On the Senate side, the Finance Committee passed the three FTAs on Tuesday, with votes expected to begin on the Senate floor on today.   The Congress is trying to complete action prior to the visit of Korean President Lee on October 13-14. 

Today, Kasey Cronquist, CEO/Ambassador of the California Cut Flower Commission had the following comments on the above developments:

“Many agricultural groups in California and across the country have chosen to endorse the three FTAs that are pending before Congress because they perceive that the FTAs generate significant new export opportunities.   Unfortunately, these FTAs do not create new markets for our California cut flowers and the permanent nature of the Colombia FTA is anticipated to actually generate a future flood of new flower imports. 

"While the California Cut Flower Commission (CCFC) does not support the FTAs, we understand the importance of passing these agreements to the Obama Administration and a range of American agriculture and industry.   We are grateful for the support for California flower farmers from the major players in this debate.  We expect that they will continue to champion a modest proposal to benefit U.S. cut flower farmers, who will remain the American industry most devastated by imports from Colombia.  Specifically, we continue to work hard for federal funding for a new California transportation and logistics center to help level the playing field with our Colombian competition.   This center, according to a September University of Southern California (USC) study will reduce growers’ shipping costs from 22-34 percent. 

"Finally and most importantly, we appreciate all the help of our Congressional champions including Representatives Lois Capps, Sam Farr, Mike Thompson, Darrell Issa and Brian Bilbray as well as Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer in this endeavor.  We are optimistic that this vital U.S. industry that provides almost 20 percent of U.S. flowers sold and contributes more than $10 billion to the California economy will soon get the federal investment and resources that it needs to thrive over the long-term.”         

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