Thread: Carlos Gutierrez at it again!

Official says NAFTA helped both nations
By S. Lynne Walker
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
February 2, 2007

MEXICO CITY – U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez yesterday urged the Mexican government to expand trade with the United States, saying the North American Free Trade Agreement has helped grow the economies in both countries.



Advertisement Gutierrez pointed to the opening of California's avocado market as an example of the U.S. commitment to trade with Mexico.
A 93-year ban on Mexican avocado exports to California ended yesterday, and Gutierrez planned to tour an avocado-producing region in Michoacan state today at President Felipe Calderón's invitation.

Opening the avocado market “shows our commitment to open and free markets,” Gutierrez told journalists before addressing the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico. “That's the message that we're taking around the world.”

The U.S. sugar market will open to Mexican exports next year, while Mexico will open its corn and bean markets.

For Mexico, allowing corn imports is politically risky. Mexicans regard corn as a cultural crop that was first cultivated in their country 9,000 years ago.

The agreement on corn was even debated during the presidential campaign, with leftist candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador vowing to renegotiate the issue with the United States if he was elected.

Gutierrez offered recent statistics as proof that the trade agreement benefits both countries. U.S. exports to Mexico have increased 190 percent since the free trade agreement went into effect on Jan. 1, 1994. The United States exported more than $124 billion worth of goods to Mexico last year.

Mexico's exports to the United State have increased 326 percent under NAFTA, to at least $183 billion in 2006.

As the two countries work to strengthen trade, Gutierrez said the United States must pass comprehensive immigration reform that acknowledges the need for Mexican workers.

“We have jobs in the U.S. that are available, that are not being filled by Americans. We have to fill those jobs. We are better off recognizing that – we have to fill those jobs in a legal way,” he said.

“Amnesty is one extreme, but the other extreme is the assumption that we are somehow going to round up 12 million people and deport them. That's not . . . logistically realistic and it's not humane or moral. So the solution is in the middle, and it's going to require a lot of compromise, a lot of discussion, a lot of debate. But unless we tackle the problem in a comprehensive fashion, it's just going to get worse.”



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S. Lynne Walker: slwalker@prodigy.net.mx

http://www.americaneconomicalert.com/ne ... ID=2471976

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“Amnesty is one extreme, but the other extreme is the assumption that we are somehow going to round up 12 million people and deport them. That's not . . . logistically realistic and it's not humane or moral. So the solution is in the middle, and it's going to require a lot of compromise, a lot of discussion, a lot of debate. But unless we tackle the problem in a comprehensive fashion, it's just going to get worse.”

Where do they think it's impossible to deport 12 million? more like 20-30 million. But none the less, it's not impossible. Start deporting them and you'd see how many would leave on their own. We don't owe them a life.

Come here legally and there's no problem. Illegals don't get rewarded for sneaking across the border. And i'm getting sick and tired of hearing the same ole "we need these people".

We don't need you here illegally, period! Mexican government officials in Mexico should keep their nose out of our business. Don't dictate what we should do with our laws, any more than you'd like the USA to dictate your laws.

IMO, AMERICA DOESN'T NEED ANY MORE IMMIGRANTS.....PERIOD. We need to get rid of all illegal aliens NOW and put a moratorium on any NEW legal immigration for 5 years.

Jaded I concur. It angers me when the illegal supporters attempt to make it sound as if the only thing acceptable to us is massive deportation. This mantra merely serves to make it appear that this problem is too overwhelming to solve by anything less than granting full on amnesty. The reality of the situation is if we cut off the freebies I'd estimate that more than half of the 11-20 million would leave voluntarily. Unfortunately, the anchor babies would probably be left behind here since they would be rendered virtually useless burdens in Mexico and no longer able to serve their intended purpose.

I think we have found our 'box of rocks'...

“Amnesty is one extreme, but the other extreme is the assumption that we are somehow going to round up 12 million people and deport them. That's not . . . logistically realistic and it's not humane or moral. So the solution is in the middle, and it's going to require a lot of compromise, a lot of discussion, a lot of debate. But unless we tackle the problem in a comprehensive fashion, it's just going to get worse.”

Re: 'not humane or moral' - [poster's note: the correct grammar should be 'not humane nor moral' - but I digress...]
Yes, Mr. Guitierrez it absolutely is humane and moral - considering that movements and actions involve US citizens, laws, businesses, etc. Your consideration should first be the citizens of THIS country, and only secondarily to those outside.

Gutierrez offered recent statistics as proof that the trade agreement benefits both countries. U.S. exports to Mexico have increased 190 percent since the free trade agreement went into effect on Jan. 1, 1994. The United States exported more than $124 billion worth of goods to Mexico last year.

Mexico's exports to the United State have increased 326 percent under NAFTA, to at least $183 billion in 2006.

Yes, but what he NOT telling you is that the US had an overall trade surplus with Mexico BEFORE NAFTA was implemented. Now, afta NAFTA, we have chronic trade deficits with Mexico. TELL THE TRUTH!

“We have jobs in the U.S. that are available, that are not being filled by Americans. We have to fill those jobs. We are better off recognizing that – we have to fill those jobs in a legal way,” he said.

Gee, I have a solution for you Mr. Guitierrez that would:
a). fill available jobs
b). allow only Americans (uh-hum, US citizens) to be hired
c). do it all legally

It's simple: just increase the pay and do all transactions 'above board' (eg. legally) - in some cases, just a modest increase is enough to attract US workers.... But, being that your elitist corporate slave-masters are driven primarily (and singularly?) by GREED, and not by other intangible concerns that affect most US citizens, like: quality of life, patriotism, compassion for your fellow citizens, respect for the rule of law; well, I don't hold out much hope that you'll ever fathom doing the 'right' thing.

No, Mr. Guitierrez. What you are lobbying for is the destruction of America's middle class by subverting US laws.