VZCZCXRO6563
RR RUEHCD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHGD #0031/01 0182209
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 182209Z JAN 08
FM AMCONSUL GUADALAJARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0537
INFO RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 1749
RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUEHGD/AMCONSUL GUADALAJARA 4584

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUADALAJARA 000031 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAGR ETRD PGOV MX
SUBJECT: NOT MUCH NOISE ON NAFTA IN WESTERN MEXICO 
 
 
GUADALAJAR 00000031  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  Summary:  The January 1, 2008 ending of the last remaining 
duties on agricultural products has so far not generated major 
protests or controversy in west-central Mexico.  Agriculture 
Association leaders in Jalisco, one of Mexico's most important 
farming and ranching states, tend to view NAFTA as more of an 
opportunity than a threat, though they do worry about certain 
more vulnerable sectors such as milk and sugar production.  The 
greatest concern is not US competition but a steady rise in the 
price of many basic inputs, especially feed grains and the 
effect on food prices for consumers.  End Summary. 
 
------------------------- 
Protests are Political 
------------------------- 
¶2.  In a January 10 meeting with the Consul General and 
Commercial Officer, the President of the Jalisco Council of 
Agricultural Associations (CAJ), Mauro Jimenez, declared that 
recent anti-NAFTA protests in other parts of Mexico were 
politically, not economically motivated.  Neither he nor his 
colleagues on the Council expect to see similar demonstrations 
in Jalisco.  The Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), which 
has been the most vocal in demanding changes in NAFTA, has 
little support in this conservative part of the country. 
 
¶3.  While discounting major NAFTA-related protests, the 
Association leaders did fault the Federal Department of 
Agriculture (SAGARPA) for failing to make necessary preparations 
before January 1st.  "They didn't do their homework" said 
Jimenez, but added that in fairness, even with another 10 years 
the Government probably wouldn't have been able to plan 
effectively without a crisis.  Now SAGARPA has to scramble to 
review the needs of vulnerable agricultural sectors. 
 
¶4. The Department's delegate (Chief Representative) in Jalisco 
does not accept this criticism.  He noted that SAGARPA has 
established programs to shield producers, especially those who 
are smaller and less efficient, from the full effects of market 
competition.  These programs include direct payments and 
subsidies, technical aid to help increase technology and 
mechanization, and government loan guarantees.  In fact, the 
delegate asserted that the biggest current problem for corn 
producers is not inefficiency or uncompetitiveness, but 
corruption: he contends that much of the government financing 
aid is being siphoned off by unscrupulous middlemen. 
 
------------------------------------ 
Opportunities and Challenges 
------------------------------------ 
¶5.  Jalisco is an agricultural powerhouse, ranking first in the 
production of eggs, pork, milk, and corn, and second in the 
production of beef, chicken, and sugar cane among all Mexican 
states.  Leaders of most of these sectors are not overly worried 
by full NAFTA implementation.  The dairy sector, and milk 
producers in particular, are bracing for very strong competition 
but believe that with modern technology, they can compete 
effectively.  Sugar cane growers are the most concerned given 
their relatively high costs of production.  Other sectors such 
as poultry producers believe they are in good shape and want to 
work on eliminating additional barriers, such as sanitary 
restrictions, on chicken exports to the US.  Meat producers are 
also looking at ways to "add value" to their products through 
expanded local processing.  Jalisco's avocado growers would like 
to export their product to the United States, capitalizing on 
the successes of growers in Michoacan.  All of the sector 
leaders are interested in US agricultural equipment and 
technology, and satisfying this interest is a key objective of 
Guadalajara's Foreign Commercial Service office. 
 
¶6.  Officials from rural areas in the consular district, who 
represent many smaller producers, are more worried about the 
effects of NAFTA competition than the Agricultural Association's 
leaders, but they echoed the latter's view that protests were 
unlikely.  At present, the prices of many agricultural products 
are up, especially grain and corn, benefiting local producers. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Grains and Trains - the Big Problems: 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶7.  It is the rise in the price of inputs, especially feed 
grains and corn, that has the Agricultural Association and 
others most concerned.  This raises the production cost of beef, 
pork, chicken, and dairy products among others - a cost which 
will have to be passed on to consumers, the majority of whom 
live in urban, not rural areas.  The end of NAFTA restrictions 
may actually help ameliorate this price rise, by facilitating 
grain imports. 
 
¶8.  Importing grain also presents challenges, with the 
Association leaders complaining about the high rates and poor 
service provided by Jalisco's main railroad, Ferromex.  A 
serious shortage of railroad cars to carry grain has also caused 
problems.  The Association is a strong supporter of additional 
 
GUADALAJAR 00000031  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
government investment in the railroad network, especially the 
construction of a new line from Guadalajara to Aguascalientes, 
which will run through the Jalisco's agricultural heartland. 
(Since business leaders also favor this line as a means of 
expediting containers of Asian imports from the Pacific port of 
Manzanillo to US markets, the chances of its eventual 
construction are good). 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
Comment:  For Now, the Campo is Calm 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
¶9.  While Jalisco media has reported extensively on anti-NAFTA 
protests in other parts of Mexico, this key agricultural state 
has not joined in, and according to its agricultural leaders, it 
is unlikely to do so.  These leaders have faith in themselves 
and their work ethic, faith in technology and new opportunities, 
and faith in the government to eventually assist vulnerable 
sectors if things go really wrong (the current Federal Minister 
of Agriculture, Alberto Cardenas, is a former Governor of 
Jalisco).  Far more worrisome than NAFTA competition is the rise 
in price of many agricultural products, which if prolonged and 
unchecked, could have a major negative impact on the millions of 
urban poor. 
RAMOTOWSKI