Among the things that Obama heard from his counterparts in Guadalajara:
• Canada and Mexico together buy eight times more U.S. goods than China. While North American trade has tripled since NAFTA went into effect 15 years ago, the growth rate of regional trade has slowed since 2001, largely because of increased border restrictions.
• U.S., Canadian and Mexican exports are losing market share in the global economy. While the three North American trade partners together accounted for 19 percent of world exports in 2000, they made up only 12.7 percent in 2008. The U.S. share alone dropped from 12 percent to 8 percent over the same period.
• Asian and European countries have signed new free trade agreements and strengthened existing ones in recent years. In North America, meantime, no new roads or border crossings have been built over the past seven years, which is increasing transportation costs along the border and making North America less competitive globally.
• To become more competitive and get out of the economic crisis sooner, NAFTA members should build new border crossings, ease obstacles to trade and harmonize production and labeling rules. If U.S., Mexican and Canadian companies could produce goods with labels that are valid in all three NAFTA member countries, they reach 450 million people living in North America instead of being confined to their home markets.
In addition to its failure in Honduras, the Obama administration drew public statements of concern last week from such leaders as President Lula da Silva of Brazil and Michelle Bachelet of Chile - along with other presidents - with its decision to increase the U.S. military presence at seven bases in Colombia. Washington apparently did not consult with South American governments - other than Colombia -- beforehand. The pretext for the expansion is, as usual, the "war on drugs." But the legislation in Congress that would fund this expansion allows for a much broader role; no wonder South America is suspicious. Obama has also not reversed the Bush administration's decision to reactivate U.S. Navy's Fourth Fleet in the Caribbean, for the first time since 1950 - a decision that raised concerns in Brazil and other countries
Not really surprised.
ReplyDeleteSee? I read things written by wing-nuts, too! :-D
ReplyDeleteAmong the things that Obama heard from his counterparts in Guadalajara:
• Canada and Mexico together buy eight times more U.S. goods than China. While North American trade has tripled since NAFTA went into effect 15 years ago, the growth rate of regional trade has slowed since 2001, largely because of increased border restrictions.
• U.S., Canadian and Mexican exports are losing market share in the global economy. While the three North American trade partners together accounted for 19 percent of world exports in 2000, they made up only 12.7 percent in 2008. The U.S. share alone dropped from 12 percent to 8 percent over the same period.
• Asian and European countries have signed new free trade agreements and strengthened existing ones in recent years. In North America, meantime, no new roads or border crossings have been built over the past seven years, which is increasing transportation costs along the border and making North America less competitive globally.
• To become more competitive and get out of the economic crisis sooner, NAFTA members should build new border crossings, ease obstacles to trade and harmonize production and labeling rules. If U.S., Mexican and Canadian companies could produce goods with labels that are valid in all three NAFTA member countries, they reach 450 million people living in North America instead of being confined to their home markets.
In addition to its failure in Honduras, the
ReplyDeleteObama administration drew public
statements of concern last week from such
leaders as President Lula da Silva of Brazil
and Michelle Bachelet of Chile - along with
other presidents - with its decision to
increase the U.S. military presence at seven
bases in Colombia. Washington apparently
did not consult with South American
governments - other than Colombia --
beforehand. The pretext for the expansion is,
as usual, the "war on drugs." But the
legislation in Congress that would fund this
expansion allows for a much broader role; no
wonder South America is suspicious.
Obama has also not reversed the Bush
administration's decision to reactivate U.S.
Navy's Fourth Fleet in the Caribbean, for the
first time since 1950 - a decision that raised
concerns in Brazil and other countries
Mara, I respect you. You analytically think through issues.
ReplyDelete