HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-049RESOLUTION NO. 91-49
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY,
FLORIDA, RECOMMENDING THE EXCLUSION OF
CITRUS FRUIT AND PROCESSED CITRUS
PRODUCTS FROM ANY FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO
WHEREAS, the industry growing and processing
citrus fruit, and in particular, fresh and processed oranges
and grapefruit, is extremely important to the economies of
Florida and the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Florida citrus industry accounts for
$8 billion in capital investment, more than 144,000
employees, hundreds of millions of dollars in annual sales,
and considerable indirect employment; and
WHEREAS, expanding world production and sales of
citrus fruit and processed citrus products will continue to
increase pressures on the U.S. citrus industries and erode
the profitability of this unsubsidized sector of American
agriculture; and
WHEREAS, over the past three years, the number of
acres of orange trees planted in Mexico has increased by
33%, the volume of fruit processed has increased by 45%, the
volume of orange juice produced has increased by 42%, and
the volume of orange juice exported has increased by 40%;
and
WHEREAS, the Florida citrus industry has fought
unfairly low import pricing in recent years due to foreign
subsidization and less -than -fair -value sales; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. International Trade Commission
has determined that, as a consequence of any Free Trade
Agreement between the United States and Mexico, under which
import duties on fresh and processed citrus would be
eliminated, "U.S. growers. . are expected to experience
losses in production, particularly growers in Florida,
California, and other warm -climate states who compete
directly with Mexico"; and
WHEREAS, the economy of Mexico offers no
offsetting export market opportunities for Florida and other
U.S. producers of citrus, now or in the future;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, that
the Board opposes the elimination or reduction of U.S.
import duties on oranges, grapefruit, orange and grapefruit
juice and any other citrus fruit and processed citrus
product, when imported from Mexico.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board urges the
President and the United States Trade Representative to
exclude all such citrus products from any list of articles
eligible to receive duty-free or reduced -duty treatment upon
importation from Mexico under any U.S. Mexico or North
American Free Trade Agreement.
The foregoing resolution was offered by Commissioner
Wheeler who moved its adoption. The motion was seconded by
Commissioner Eggert and, upon being put to a vote, the vote
was as follows:
1
RESOLUTION NO. 91-49
Chairman Richard N. Bird Aye
Vice -Chairman Gary C. Wheeler Aye
Commissioner Margaret C. Bowman Aye
Commissioner Carolyn K. Eggert Aye
Commissioner Don C. Scurlock, Jr. Aye
The Chairman thereupon declared the resolution
passed and adopted this 23rd day of April, 1991.
BOARD OF COUNTY"COMMISSPNEP$
INDIAN RIVER;COUNTY, FLORIDA
BY
rey R. Barton, C erk
.am u.* d )t„ a1,.O.e.
Richard N. Birdy:Caairman
APPROVED AS TO FORM
AND L S FFICI NCY:
Charles P. Virunac
County Attorney