From: harelb@math.cornell.edu (misc.activism.progressive co-moderator)
Subject: TRADE NEWS: ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY NAFTA WILL INCREASE POLLUTION 
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: misc.activism.progressive on UseNet ; ACTIV-L@UMCVMB
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 18:55:59 GMT

    The report, prepared for the National Resources Defense Council,   
    concludes that Mexico's hazardous waste treatment and disposal  
    capabilities are "currently inadequate to handle the quantity  
    and type of waste produced by foreign and domestic uld lead to
    industries," and co"serious environmental and public
    health risks." 
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	ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY NAFTA WILL INCREASE POLLUTION 
	US SENATE HEARINGS BEGIN SEPTEMBER 8 
	PEMEX FORMS ALLIANCE WITH PRIVATE COMPANY 
	TAIWAN SEEKS INCREASED TRADE, INVESTMENT IN MEXICO 
	MEXICO PRESENTS BRAZIL WITH FREE TRADE PROPOSAL 
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Topic 151       TRADE.NEWS 8-26-92 
kmander Updates on GATT & NAFTA Negotiations    12:29 pm  Aug 26, 1992 
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TRADE NEWS BULLETIN 
Wednesday, August 26, 1992 
_________________________________________________________ 
)NAFTA News Summary 
_________________________________________________________ 
ENVIRONMENTALISTS SAY NAFTA WILL INCREASE POLLUTION 

The North American Free Trade Agreement lacks adequate  
funding and enforcement for environmental protection, and will  
lead to sharp increases in waste disposal in Mexico, according to  
a report released by thirteen U.S. environmental groups. 

The report, prepared for the National Resources Defense Council,   
concludes that Mexico's hazardous waste treatment and disposal  
capabilities are "currently inadequate to handle the quantity  
and type of waste produced by foreign and domestic  
industries," and could lead to "serious environmental and public  
health risks." 

Environmental and citizens' groups also contend that NAFTA  
would enable Mexico to seek the lowering of U.S. and Canadian  
standards of pesticide residues on fruit and vegetables. 

Source: Martin Langfield, "Trade Pact May Bring Mexico  
Environmental Headache," REUTER, August 21, 1992; Patricia  
Walsh, "Environmentalists Question Benefits of Free Trade Pact,"  
UPI, August 23, 1992; "NAFTA May Bring 'Import' of Pollution  
to Mexico," JOURNAL OF COMMERCE, August 25, 1992. 
_________________________________________________________ 
US SENATE HEARINGS BEGIN SEPTEMBER 8 

The U.S. Senate Finance Committee will begin hearings on  
NAFTA September 8. 

"Now that our negotiators have produced a North American Free  
Trade Agreement, Congress must determine whether it serves  
our national interest," said Chairman Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas)  
"As I have stressed for the past two years, in principle I believe  
a properly structured free-trade agreement will be good for us,  
boosting our economy and providing a net increase in U.S. jobs.   
Now we have to take a close look at the details of this  
agreement -- give it serious review and consideration." 

Bentsen announced that U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills  
would be the opening witness. 

On a four-country swing to Asia, Senator Max Baucus (D- 
Montana), chairman of the Finance Committee's trade  
subcommittee, said U.S. trade policy would not turn  
protectionist if Bill Clinton is elected president.  Baucus did  
speculate that a Clinton Administration might seek tougher use  
of market-opening measures, and would offer greater assistance  
to U.S. exporters. 

Source: "Senate Schedules Trade Debate," UPI, August 25, 1992;  
Mark Magnier, "Baucus Says Clinton Could Be Tougher on Trade,  
Give More Aid to Exporters," JOURNAL OF COMMERCE, August  
25, 1992, p. 5A. 
_________________________________________________________ 
PEMEX FORMS ALLIANCE WITH PRIVATE COMPANY 

The Mexican government granted permission to the state- 
owned oil company, PEMEX, to join with a private company to  
market oil and lubricants in the country, according to Mexico's  
EL NACIONAL newspaper.  The new company will be 51 percent  
owned by private investors and 49 percent owned by PEMEX. 

Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, most of  
Mexico's restrictions on foreign investment and private  
participation in its petroleum industry will remain in place.  The  
U.S. and Canada will be able to supply natural gas to Mexican  
factories only through contracts with PEMEX serving as an  
intermediary. 

"Pemex Makes Private Enterprise Alliance," UPI, August 25,  
1992; "Provisions of the NAFTA Compromise," JOURNAL OF  
COMMERCE, August 7, 1992, p. 10A. 
_________________________________________________________ 
TAIWAN SEEKS INCREASED TRADE, INVESTMENT IN MEXICO 

Taiwan will encourage businesses to increase trade and  
investment in Mexico to take advantage of the North American  
Free Trade Agreement, a senior trade official said Monday.   
"Mexico is the gateway to North America and Latin America,"  
Hsu Chao-ling, deputy head of the Board of Foreign Trade said  
Monday.  Other Taiwanese trade officials, warning that NAFTA  
would lead to protectionism, have urged companies to invest in  
Mexico to ensure access to the country. 

About 100  government and business officials from the two  
countries held a one-day meeting in Taipei yesterday to discuss  
bilateral trade and economic relations. 

Source: "Taiwan to Boost Trade, Investment in Mexico," REUTER,  
August 24, 1992. 
_________________________________________________________ 
MEXICO PRESENTS BRAZIL WITH FREE TRADE PROPOSAL 

Mexico has presented Brazil with a draft of a proposed free  
trade agreement, Brazil's new ambassador to Mexico said  
Tuesday.  Eugenio Anguiano said a free-trade treaty would  
increase bilateral trade between the two countries.  Anguiano  
said efforts to impeach Brazilian President Fernando Collor de  
Mello for corruption would not affect prospects for a trade deal. 

Source: "Latin American Briefs," AP, August 26, 1992. 
_________________________________________________________ 
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