Thread: Candy makers go after Obama over impasse on Mexican tariffs

Candy makers go after Obama over impasse on Mexican tariffs
By Mike Lillis - 08/21/10 11:10 AM ET

The nation's candy makers this week slammed Washington policymakers for failing to settle a trade dispute with one of their most lucrative export markets: Mexico.

The impasse, the National Confectioners Association warned Friday, will ding the industry with a 20 percent tax on tens of millions of dollars worth of chewing gum and chocolate products heading south of the border.

"Dozens of U.S. gum and chocolate makers large and small will immediately feel the effects of these duties," NCA President Larry Graham said in a statement.

The concerns come in response this week's announcement by the Mexican government that it would expand the number of products subject to new border taxes — a move designed to pressure the U.S. to allow Mexican long-haul trucks on U.S. roadways.

Though the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) allowed for those trucks to enter the U.S. beginning in 2000, concerns over the safety of those vehicles and the competence of their drivers — not to mention pressure from unions and U.S. trucking companies — has so far kept them out.

As a result, Mexico last year slapped new border taxes on 89 U.S.-made products, including many agriculture products. This week, Mexican officials expanded that number to 99.

"Previously confections from the United States crossed the border duty-free under NAFTA," Graham said, estimating that $45 million worth of confections would be subject to the new tax.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates the tariffs have cost the United States at least 25,000 jobs.

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Just pass the cost off on Mexican consumers. they do it to the U S citizens all the time when costs go up...And if its Hershey, well they already moved part of the company TO Mexico....

Oh my God, is this true? Are the Mexicans really restoring protective trade tariffs against NAFTA? Hallelujah, Praise the Lord. Now, the US can withdraw from NAFTA and end this nightmare once and for all. Slap tariffs on all goods and services imported from Mexico and do it now. I've tried to buy US made candy and it's very hard to find. Almost all the candy is already made in Mexico.

Wake UP Confectionnaires! Who do you think eats more candy that any people on Earth? AMERICANS! So pay the tariffs to Mexico, charge them tariffs on your competitors, produce all your products here that you want to sell here and feed US sweets, then we'll buy yours instead of theirs.



Protected trade for everyone! Bring our factories, jobs, money, equipment and technology home, and do it now.

If the US doesn't seize this moment to end NAFTA once and for all, then we don't deserve anything but the disastrous consequences we're already experiencing. And this goes for every FTA we have with every country on the planet. Withdraw from them all.

LETS GO AMERICA!! There's 5 simple steps to fixing the US economy:

1. stop illegal immigration
2. pass the FairTax
3. protect our trade
4. legalize/regulate/tax under 2 the illegal drug trade
5. drill baby drill

It's not complicated. It's very simple. Just do it.