Local Media Gloss over CAFTA

Analysis:

This article was about the annual World Trade Week which has took place in Grand Rapids from May 16 – 19. In the past the conference focused on the specific country but this year the theme is on trade in general. One of the trade issues mentioned in the article was CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement. This mention of CAFTA was one of the few mentions GRIID has seen of this trade agreement in the local media. All that the article reports about CAFTA is that negotiations on the treaty are still underway and that a vote is slated for later this month.

CAFTA is basically an extension of NAFTA, which has been in place for over a decade. Critics of NAFTA, such as the AFL-CIO or Global Exchange have attributed significant job loss in the US to that trade treaty, a trend that CAFTA could potentially accelerate. Given that Western Michigan has seen a large number of manufacturing job losses over the last few years, this topic is relevant to this area.

Up until this Grand Rapids Press article, did not see a single mention of CAFTA in the GR Press. Considering the potential impact that CAFTA may have on West Michigan, this story has been very much underreported. This is not due to a lack of potential stories related to CAFTA either. A local coalition of over 20 labor, environmental, farmer and activist groups have been promoting a Stop CAFTA campaign that has been active on this issue and has been almost completely ignored by the GR Area media. Several weeks ago members of this group attended a town hall meeting held by Congressional Representative Vern Ehlers and he was asked several times to clarify his position on CAFTA. This town hall meeting was not covered by the GR Press despite the fact these organizations backing the Stop CAFTA campaign had sent out press releases. Now, this is just one example, but it is certainly not the only one where local media ignored this issue.

Story:

Week focuses on world trade
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
By Julia Bauer
The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS — World trade is so hot, West Michigan is devoting nearly a week to global issues starting Monday.

World Trade Week launches its 20th year with lunch Monday and ends with a rousing round of international team trivia Thursday evening.

Between the two events, 18 experts from nine countries, along with state and federal trade officials, will share their insights.

“The effect of global forces on local trade has been just phenomenal, and our program this year reflects that,” said William Richeson, chairman of World Trade Week.

“For the last 19 years, we always focused on a particular country — Turkey, China, India, Brazil. We’ve done some major changes.”

May 17 holds the busiest agenda, with morning, afternoon and evening events around Loosemore Auditorium at Grand Valley State University’s Pew Campus.

Speakers include local analysts George Erickcek and Jim Gillette.

As specialists and panel members speak during 45-minute segments, individual consultations are being offered with them throughout the day, Richeson said.

Special meetings

People who sign up Tuesday morning could get a private conversation with a representative of the U.S. Department of Commerce specializing in Central America or Australia, a manager of the State of Michigan’s offices in Shanghai or Mexico City, or international attorneys from Taiwan, the Netherlands, South Africa or Germany.

On Tuesday evening, the Van Andel Global Trade Center, based at GVSU downtown, will be honored as World Trader of the Year by the event sponsors, the West Michigan World Trade Association.

With negotiations still under way for the Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, the World Trade Week events are very timely, Richeson said.

A decision on CAFTA is slated for later this month.

“It’s very topical, with the U.S. Department of Commerce Road Show,” said Richeson, senior vice president of global trade and treasury for National City Bank.

The Commerce Department is sending a handful of its global experts to the event.

Teens take their turn

For the first time, teenagers are in the loop on global trade issues.

Since early April, nearly 100 high school juniors in Grand Rapids Public Schools have studied issues through Global Marketplace, a Junior Achievement program.

On May 15, those students will travel to GVSU’s Allendale campus for a college day.

Their sessions include information on international majors and careers, study abroad, and financial assistance programs.

Two essay winners writing on global trade and its impact personally and on West Michigan are to win $500 scholarships from National City Bank. The daylong session is underwritten by Alticor.