Mexican farmers fearful of new NAFTA changes

[Terri]

LUKE TURF
Tucson Citizen
Jan. 1, 2003

Today marks the start of a new wave of NAFTA regulations, which stirs fear among Mexican farmers.
Critics say the changes could lead to more illegal immigration into the United States as the Mexican economy remains soft.

Beginning today, farmers in the United States may send even more products into Mexico without tariffs.

The reduction in costs to U.S. farmers is expected to help flood Mexican markets with cheaper U.S. products and leave many farmers in Mexico unable to compete.

Farmers' simmering resentment over the 10 years of the North American Free Trade Agreement has erupted into protests around Mexico.

Full Story (http://www.tucsoncitizen.co m/local/1_1_03nafta.html)

[Floridaguy]

http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tqrolleyes.gif oh brother. It has been said before on here, but NAFTA was the only reason half of Mexico's farmers still have jobs. It was infinitely worse for US farmers than for Mexicans. It just about drove the tomato industry out of Florida, not to mention many winter vegetables. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/shake.gif Californian farmers (especially avocado and tomato growers) could tell a similar story. The audacity for anyone to suggest that Mexico should worry about something responsible for them dumping tons of produce into our borders is incredible. The only part they got right was that the increased trade did result in hordes more illegal Mexicans meandering their way here. It has nothing to do with production, and everything to do with minumum wage here, versus the $1.50 or so Mexicans make back home per day in farming. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif

http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag19.gif http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cowboy7.gif

[pRIMrose]

Ditto! http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nopityA.gif

[AngelsRWorldChamps]

NAFTA another good impeached President Clinton idea

[Floridaguy]

Mark, you are completely correct. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif And in understandable language too! http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag19.gif

[Terri]

Wait! Am I wrong? Don't I remember that everyone supported NAFTA? Sort of like everyone now supports illegal aliens. http://gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/angry.gif

[navyblue]

Larry Schiffers(sp), the chief consul for the Republicans during the Clinton impeachment thing wrote a book in which he claims that NAFTA did NOT get the 2/3 vote in the Senate. *He claims that it was 3 votes short. *This of course would make it a non treaty.

Does anyone know if the votes are archived and could be seen today? *But then we are in the era of revisionist history, are we not?

[Terri]

I think votes are available online for quite a few years back. I would have to do some research and maybe I will when I get time.

That doesn't sound very likely though.