North American Agrifood Market Integration Consortium

North American Agrifood Market Integration Consortium

NAAMIC Workshop I: North American Agrifood Market Integration: Current Situation and Perspectives

The first workshop session is designed to help its organizers define the concept of market integration, which is often used without being clearly defined in a manner that policy makers, industry leaders, and even academics can relate to in an applied context. This session is followed by a presentation on the European experience with market integration, the extent to which market integration has occurred under NAFTA, and the extent to which the achievement of market integration is a goal of the three NAFTA countries. This workshop will probe two key contemporary issues affecting market integration under NAFTA: The first issue deals with the marginalized rural population of Mexico that remain poor, have been left behind by market integration policies, or often migrate to the United States or Canada. The second session utilizes the mad cow disease experience as a case example of integrated risk/crisis management. The final wrap-up session is designed to stir reaction from industry interest groups affected by market integration.

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Conference Proceedings

North American Agrifood Market Integration: Situation and Perspectives -- Karen M. Huff, Karl D. Meilke, Ronald D. Knutson, Rene F. Ochoa, James Rude, and Antonio Yunez-Naude

Conference Executive Summary

English Español -- Ronald D. Knutson, Rene F. Ochoa, Karl D. Meilke, and David P. Ernstes

Session I: Economics and Definition of Market Integration

Session I is designed to help us defining market integration from an economy wide perspective. It should do so in an applied context that can be readily understood by a general audience. In doing so, it should explain related economic concepts, again in a manner that communicates with a general audience.

Chair: Walt Armbruster - Farm Foundation

Defining North American Economic Integration

Raymond Robertson, Macalester College-St. Paul, MN
Paper
Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)

Discussion--

Richard Barichello, University of British Columbia
Paper
Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)

Session II: European Perspective on Market Integration: Lessons for NAFTA

Session II has as its primary objective to learn from the steps the European Union has taken to integrate markets and the related accomplishments. Implications should be drawn for NAFTA. In particular, the paper and subsequent discussion should address the extent to which NAFTA needs to take steps in the direction of an economic union to accomplish market integration.

Chair: Karl Meilke - University of Guelph

European Perspective on Market Integration

David Harvey, University of New Castle upon Tyne, UK
Paper
Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)

Discussion--

Liam McCreery, CAFTA
Paper
Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)

Session III: Extent of Market Integration Under NAFTA

Session III has the primary objective of providing quantitative estimates of the extent of market integration under NAFTA. The economic underpinnings for the estimates need to be explained in a manner that can be readily understood. The paper should include a discussion of the extent of direct foreign investment. Chair: Tulay Yildirim - AAFC
North American Integration in Agriculture: A Survey Paper	Tom Vollrath, USDA Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
	Steven Zahniser, USDA Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
	Andrew Goldstein, AAFC Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
	Darcie Doan, AAFC Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
*Discussion--*	Ken Shwedel, Rabobank-Mexico Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)

Session IV: Policy-makers Panel: Is Market Integration a Policy Goal?

Session IV has the primary purpose of determining the extent to which market integration is a policy goal of the NAFTA countries. Comments should provide a country perspective on NAFTA, the role of trade agreements in country policy, and the perspective on policy alternatives extending to economic unions. Chair: Jeffrey Jones - Mexican Senate
Panel	Antonio Ruiz, SAGARPA Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
Panel	Lloyd Day, USDA Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
Panel	Michael Keenan , AAFC Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)

Session V: Issues Evolving from Market Integration: The People Left Behind/Transition Policy and the Structure of the Agrifood Sector

Session V will utilize two base papers to explore the issues arising from the reality that many in Rural Mexico have not benefited from NAFTA. In relative terms, they are worse off, and constitute many of the migrants to the United States and Canada. Why did this happen and what are the solutions? Chair: Praveen Dixit - USDA
Base Paper	Ed Taylor, University of California-Davis Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
Base Paper	Antonio Yunez, El Colegio de Mexico Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
The People Left Behind: Lessons for the FTAA	Kristin Penn, Land O' Lakes International Programs Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
*Discussion--*	Celso Humberto Delgado, Confederacion Nacional Campesina-CNC Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
*Discussion--*	Sergio Soto, SEDESOL - Microregions Program Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
*Discussion--*	Armando Paredes, National Agricultural Council (CNA) Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)

Session VI: Issues Evolving from Market Integration: Integration Risk/Crisis Management, BSE Case Study

The primary purpose of Session VI is to address how NAFTA and its member countries should deal with crisis situations that could lead to serious disruptions of market integration. While the Canadian discovery and handling of mad cow disease is to be used as an case study, the discussion is to be considerably broader-extending to questions of food safety, potential sanitary and phytosanitary trade barriers, trade and food security. Chair: Brian Paddock - AAFC
Base Paper	Julie Caswell, University of Massachusetts Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
Base Paper	Dave Sparling, University of Guelph Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
*Discussion--*	Gale Wagner, Texas A&M University Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
*Discussion--*	Lynn Malmberg, L.A. Malmberg Risk Management, Ltd. Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)

Session VII: Conference Wrap Up with an Industry Panel Discussion on Market Integration

Session VII has a primary purpose of providing industry with an opportunity to provide their perspective on market integration. The discussants may address any aspect of the workshop papers and discussion. Of particular interest is any observation on needed policy initiatives. Chair: Rene Ochoa- Texas A&M University
*Canadian Production Sector Discussion--*	Matt Taylor, Canadian Animal Health Coalition Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
*U.S. Production Sector Discussion--*	Terry Wolf, U.S. Grains Council Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
*Mexican Production Sector Discussion--*	César de Anda, National Poultry Producers Association Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)
*Processing Sector Discussion--*	Alvaro Madero, SIGMA Paper Presentation: (web) (Adobe Acrobat)