Thread: Refresher: NAFTA Wasn't Bad, and CAFTA Won't Be, Either

http://blog.nam.org/archives/2005/08/re ... ad_and.php

August 27, 2005
Refresher: NAFTA Wasn't Bad, and CAFTA Won't Be, Either

Dobbs WatchIn the face of Lou Dobbs' (and others) inability to let the recent CAFTA vote go, we wanted to take this opportunity to remind folks of some very important facts. Dobbs & Co. were fond of invoking NAFTA as a reason to oppose CAFTA. They rhymed, which made it even neater. The truth (nobody on that side much cares about the truth, it seems) is that NAFTA didn't cause the trade deficit, and neither will CAFTA exacerbate it. Yet Lou continues to harp on it, even linking to an anti-trade site to further his antediluvian views.

A study conducted in the heat of the CAFTA battle showed that manufacturing imports from NAFTA countries actually declined during the 2001-2003 manufacturing recession. More than half our trade deficit with NAFTA countries is in oil. Since NAFTA took effect, manufacturing exports to NAFTA countries have grown 55% faster than to the rest of the world. And, NAFTA countries are now the largest export market for 46 of the 50 states. Here's a link to the full study. As we like to say, facts are stubborn things.

Let's hope we have this kind of "bad experience" with CAFTA, no?

Posted by Pat Cleary at August 27, 2005 08:08 AM

This is a Manufacturing Blog in Washington DC

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The next bigger and worse "free" trade agreement coming is the FTAA (the Free Trade Area of the Americas)

Like other persons here reading this that might be interested ---- I am having a presentation/meeting on the FTAA (& associated Border issues) to inform the public on the FTAA, to motivate to organize Americans. This presentation is on Tuesday, August 30th at 6:30 pm at the Patrick Beaver Memorial Library (Conference Room) in Hickory. The library is at 375 3rd St. NE (Rt. 127 North, a main strip, runs
on the back side of the library) (Rt. 127 can be gotten off from 321 North). The library phone # is (82 304-0500.

I will be running an advertisement for this event in the Hickory Daily Record on Sun. Aug 28th and Tues. Aug 30th.

Anyone interested can call me at: (82 381-2786 or e-mail to: rkingsnake@charter.net

To Ron Laws :

You said :

The next bigger and worse "free" trade agreement coming is the FTAA (the Free Trade Area of the Americas)

The First Step for that FTAA is the Andean FTA ( USA, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia ) that could be signed as early as September or October 2005.

There has been a Big Maximization of Fantasies and Illusions. And a Big Minimization of Risks, Perils, Dangers. For example Peasants being ruined, Tropical Forests being destroyed by the evicted peasants, Beggars in the Andean Cities, More Pressure for Emigration in Andean countries harmed, more pressure from Andeans in Central America and Mexico ( by Andean Emigration )


Who are responsible for the Maximization of Illusions :

The American and Andean Officials involved in the Negotiations, the presidents of the countries involved, the press, etc ...

They Minimize all dangers to the Environment and the Poor Peasants. These last people have no representation in the negotiations, the press, etc ...

Most important members of the Ways and Means Committee have traveled in secret to South America in "Persuasion Trips", that has happened during July and August of 2005. The U. S. Ambassador to Colombia William Wood has spoken in Apocalyptic Terms if Colombia does not sign.

According to many Officials ( American and Latin ) Colombia has no Future but to be a Protectorate, Dependency or Territory of the USA signing anything that is presented to the Andean Country by the USA. No Future but Meek adhesion to the USA in everything.

And as negotiations stand now on August 28 of 2005, Colombia gave everything before starting the Negotiations and opened herself completely in Agriculture, whereas the USA is almost 100% closed for those Colombian Agricultural Products that are very extremely competitive like Sugar, African Palm and Oil, chemical and industrial derivatives of such products, and other offensive Colombian Agricultural or AgroIndustry Chemical Products.

And the USA is going to stop Colombian Products with Artificial Barriers and Obstacles because there are no good provisions for a Scientific Impartial and Detached Inspection in the Fitosanitary or Biological Control This is going to be left to whims, fancies and caprice.

The Colombian Government has become a Puppet of Washington without Vision, Imagination, etc ...

The Message Preached by all the guys that I have mentioned is this :

Without the USA the Andean Countries have no Future.

The Industrial Perspective of the Andean Countries exporting to the USA might have been exaggerated and the Eco Dangers have been totally ignored ( as the peasants are driven into ruin and poverty by American Cereals that have subsidies of US $100 per ton and more )

This FTA with the Andeans deserves a more careful study.

It the USA causes the ruin of her main political ally in Latin America, which is Colombia ( Agricultural Catastrophe and Peasant Impoverishment ) the consequenes are going to be very negative, long term.

And U. S. Foregin Policy is going to be abhorred in the Western Hemisphere. The rest of the world will watch the events with growing suspicion of Washington D. C. Intentions and Actions.

The U. S. Government is going to lose credibility outside its borders.

Is that good for American Power ??? ...... Short Term the American Big Farming wins. Long Term Foreign Policy is totally discredited.

Vicente Duque