From: harelb@math.cornell.edu (misc.activism.progressive co-moderator)
Subject: NAFTA: MEXICAN OPPOSITION PARTY CRITICIZES NAFTA
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: misc.activism.progressive on UseNet ; ACTIV-L@UMCVMB
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 18:48:51 GMT

[From PeaceNet's trade.news via misc.activism.progressive]
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Topic 141       TRADE.NEWS 8-12-92 
kmander Updates on GATT & NAFTA Negotiations     9:53 am  Aug 12, 1992 
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			 TRADE NEWS BULLETIN
		      Wednesday, August 12, 1992

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MEXICAN OPPOSITION PARTY CRITICIZES NAFTA 

Mexico's opposition Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD)  
criticized the NAFTA because "We're afraid Mexico's  
participation in the agreement is simply as a source of cheap  
labor,"  said PRD Deputy Ricardo Valero.  He added that the  
Mexican government had been extremely secretive about the  
negotiations, stifling an open discussion about the consequences  
of free trade with the U.S. and Canada.  "There has been a  
problem with information," Valero said.  "There has not been a  
national debate."   

Valero said he expected the agreement to pass easily through  
the Mexican Congress because it is controlled by the ruling  
Institutional Revolutionary Party. 

An economist with the Monterrey Chamber of Commerce said  
most of Mexico's industries are small and that many "will  
simply disappear" under the stiff competition from U.S. and  
Canadian companies. 

Jose Romero, an economist at the think tank Colegio de Mexico,  
said the accord will initially cost some Mexican jobs but will  
lead to overall long-range stability. 

Source: "Negotiators Overcame Conflict Over Autos,  
Environment" UPI, August 12,1992; Isaac A. Levi, "Mexico-Free  
Trade," AP, August 12, 1992. 
_________________________________________________________ 
JAPAN SAYS NAFTA WILL HURT ITS AUTO INDUSTRY 

After learning that the U.S., Canada and Mexico had reached a  
NAFTA accord, Japanese government and business officials  
complained that the pact may hurt Japanese automakers and  
increase pressure for a trading bloc in Asia. 

"It's clear that when you give favored treatment to some  
countries, that puts others in a disadvantaged position," said  
Hajime Ota, the chief of the international economic affairs  
department at the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations. 

Details of the NAFTA auto deal were not yet available, but the  
percentage of a car's content that must be produced in North  
America for it to receive duty-free status remained a  
contentious issue through the final days of negotiations.  The  
U.S. was seeking a North American content requirement  
between 60-65 percent to benefit U.S. automakers. Mexico and  
Canada wanted lower percentages to encourage foreign  
automakers to establish assembly plants in their countries. 

Source: Peter Landers, "Japan-Free Trade," AP, August 12, 1992. 
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_________________________________________________________ 
Produced by: 
Kai Mander     
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) 
1313 Fifth Street SE, Suite #303 
Minneapolis, MN 55414-1546 USA 

Telephone:(612)379-5980 Fax:(612)379-5982  
E-Mail:kmander@igc.org 
_________________________________________________________ 


Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive