Free Trade Fact of the Day

Posted July 16th, 2008 at 12.11pm in American Leadership.

No wonder Europe loves Barack Obama: while Obama is promising unilateral withdrawal from NAFTA unless Mexico agrees to new terms to protect U.S. union jobs, the European Union is working to reduce trade barriers with Mexico. The AP reports:

The European Union’s executive commission on Tuesday proposed to upgrade ties with Mexico, recommending the North American nation be made a “strategic partner” for the 27-nation EU.
…
The plan, which still needs the backing of EU nations and the European Parliament, was also seen to improve European access to Mexico’s oil reserves and bolster its influence in the region dominated by the United States.

Mexico is the world’s sixth-largest oil producer.

The EU and Mexico already have a free trade pact, which came into force eight years ago. … The 27-nation EU is Mexico’s second-biggest trading partner after the United States.

Author: Conn Carroll
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2 Comments

July 16, 2008 Mark,houston writes:

GOOD,MAYBE THE ILLEGAL’S CAN GO TO EUROPE .

July 16, 2008 Darvin Dowdy, Houston, TX writes:

If the EU is reducing barriers all the more reason to revisit Nafta.
Nafta “must” be revisited. Our side had best come to some realizations. Specifically - the Mexican truckers driving professionally on U.S. taxpayer funded highways without a work permit/visa. It should not be allowed to happen. Within 5 years the “former” U.S. trucking industry will be no more. 70% or more will be operated out of northern Mexico with a cheap, non-U.S. labor force and poorly regulated vehicles. More deterioration of our Middle class. This is the cost of our antiquated trade practices. A slow erosion of our dynamic middle class. That middle class which sets us apart from 3rd world countries. 3rd world countries having no middle class to speak of.
There is an element of the GOP Hierarchy/USCofC/WSJ crowd that will whisper and nod among themselves, “we can no longer sustain a strong middle class in this nation”. Arrogant, short-term thinking that will make the U.S. the largest 3rd-world barrio nation on the planet. Don’t expect middle America to go down without a fight, however. For many the only way they can fight is to vote for Obama. Or protest vote for some 3rd party candidate. Or, exasperated, dropping out of the process and staying at home on election day.
We conservatives had best stop being in denial about this 500 lb gorilla in the room and at least start discussions or a debate with “all” sides presented. Darvin Dowdy

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