It is essential that this movement toward zero tariff barriers be implemented not only in North America, but also across the Americas. The Western Hemisphere represents one of our best growth opportunities. However, U.S. trade policy to date has not made it possible for us to fully tap the potential of this market - other than in Mexico and Canada. There is clearly a large and growing market in Latin America for our fabrics and, in Mexico alone, our sales grew at a rate of fifty-three percent in 1996 and are growing at about forty percent so far this year. The realization of this potential would create another 200 jobs in Massachusetts.
Chile is a case in point.
This happened because Chile already has trade agreements in place with Mexico, Canada, and the Mercosur countries. It is possible that Chile may strike a similar deal with the European Union next. There are fabric manufacturers in Mexico, Canada, the Mercosur countries and the European Union. They are Quaker's competitors. Quaker has customers in Chile.