“If Mexico is unwilling to pay for the badly needed wall, then it would be better to cancel the upcoming meeting,” tweeted Trump Thursday morning.
In response, Meeting Cancelled said Mexican President Peña Nieto.
Trump Moves Shake Deep U.S.-Mexico Relationship
The Wall Street Journal reports Trump Moves Shake Deep U.S.-Mexico Relationship.
“I want to emphasize that we will be working in partnership with our friends in Mexico to improve safety and economic opportunity on both sides of the border,” Mr. Trump said after announcing plans to build a border wall and crack down on immigration—pledges that have provoked widespread anger in Mexico.
Yet Mr. Trump followed his comments by reading a roll of Americans he said were killed by illegal immigrants.
And his actions are starting to reverse a quarter-century of bipartisan policies aimed at fostering greater integration between the two neighbors.
The new policies are prompting a backlash in Mexico, where officials are threatening retaliation, and where the new U.S. stance is stoking a volatility in Mexican politics that could fuel a counter-Trump populist movement of its own, injecting still more uncertainty into the bilateral relationship.
“President Trump: your wall assaults us, and leaves the Statue of Liberty as a relic,” Andrés Manuel López Obrador, head of the leftist Morena party, who leads in the polls for the 2018 Mexican presidential election, said on Twitter.
Regional trade has more than tripled to more than $1.1 trillion—with some industrial components crossing back and forth over the border as part of the regional supply chain—while U.S. foreign direct investment has grown sevenfold to more than $100 billion, the report said. The U.S. is Mexico’s largest trading partner, while Mexico is No. 3 for the U.S., behind Canada and China.
Railroads Union Pacific Corp. and Kansas City Southern have spent billions of dollars upgrading cross-border infrastructure in recent years, while a million square feet of industrial real estate is under construction around Laredo, according to Colliers International, a real-estate brokerage, and industrial construction activity hit its highest level since 2008 in Tijuana, Mexico last year, according to CBRE Group Inc., another brokerage. Most of these projects were planned before the election.
The above article is from yesterday. The word for today is “cancelled”.
Collapsing trade is not a good thing, for anyone.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
he better get in while he can!
It’s been a long time since we had a President who cared about this country. It’s funny watching Trump’s opponents run around like headless chickens. They don’t know what is hitting them.
Real Americans revolted against the globalist elite! We wanted our jobs and country back! Our healthcare was too expensive. Mine is $700/month now (AND RISING!). My car insurance is still $25 per month (from Insurance Panda), but what Obama’s plans for that were? Things are getting more and more expensive as it is. Can we really afford to support the world’s homeless?
It is so nice to wake up happy and not worried about our country. It’s in good hands. President Trump is putting America first. It’s been a very long time since that has happened in Washington…from the president or Congress.
Yawn….Dipshit leader of 3d world country makes silly noise….
Your speaking of Trump, yes?
We are not third world yet, but if Trump gets his way, he won’t be long.
We are not third world yet, but if Trump gets his way, it won’t be long before we are. Nativism and tribalism – Trump’s stock in trade — are a definitional features of ex-colonial countries.
Hey Bobby Hill , you are so intelligent but I have to say , you need to stop reading those comic books , seems to be doing something to you , could it be that Trump might just be smarter than you .
Trump to Mexico: Pay $30 billion now and you get a 2 year hiatus on the new 35% import tariff.
Mexico: Whew, here is the check.
I admit I am a total novice at international economics. Can someone explain to me how a 50 billion dollar a year trade deficit with Mexico is good for the US, or the what, 300 billion or so a year with China, or any other country for that matter.
Cheap goods for the consumer, yeah, I get that, but at what real cost?
Very simple. Just read Bastiat here- http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/08/candle-makers-petition.asp
+1
In addition, all bakers run a large trade deficit with grain farmers. But then bakers run a surplus with tractor makers, which again run a surplus with farmers…..
Just as America may run a simple goods deficit with China, but a software surplus with Germany, which again runs a production machinery surplus with China….
One would think, or at least hope, that mindlessly getting agitated over bilateral trade balances in isolation in a multilateral world, was something every living human would realize was straight up retarded by the time they reached the age of three, but……
The reason America looks “bad” in global trade balance terms, is that we can run a deficit with essentially everyone, for as long as we can get away with just printing up money to pay for it, instead of having to work for it.
Being able to just print up what still remains the global “reserve currency”, and the currency used in most international trade, is what gives (privileged, as in close to the Fed) Americans this ability. Not obfuscating nonsense about other countries having slave labor and other such silliness.
If someone in America had to actually produce something, even for even, to trade with what a bunch of Mexicans have to bust their rear to produce, a bunch of Americans would have to bust their ass (aka they would have a job) as well. But since the Mexicans are content to bust their ass in return for nothing more than paper pieces printed up for the benefit of America’s 1%ers with zero effort at all, the working American is bypassed in the whole ordeal. Instead, the Mexicans get the jobs, the 1%ers get to enjoy the output of Mexicans’ jobs in return for nothing at all beyond receiving Fed welfare checks, and all the American worker gets, is unemployment, anger and an orange haired Chavez imitator.
There is the deficit, which is 50 bill. There is also the economy in total, which is probably 10x that at least. Mexico, if it doesn’t cave, will have a destroyed economy which is why Trump thinks he has the upper hand. The big losers of course will be consumers(Mexico has agriculture, manufacturing etc. that makes products cheaper.) I would say that Mexico is corrupt and in total fear of the drug dealers. Pot sales have declined since it’s been legalized in the US, but they are pushing heroin through now. Most of that is, of course, from Pakistan and Afghanistan(which the CIA and the US military turn a blind eye to). IT WOULD BE NICE if Mexico got control of it’s borders and internal crime but that country is barely operational
More than just a blind eye. Under Obama, heroin deaths now exceed deaths for auto accidents, murder, war. And the trade would be close to zero if CIA and military wanted it close to zero. We know where the poppies are, and U.S. has air superiority.
But what motive could there be for us to bomb poppy fields that the CIA already controls?
But what incentive is there for the US to bomb poppy fields the CIA already controls?
About that Statue of Liberty. It was France’s idea and they actually put it there by giving it to us. It also set on a line between our east coast and Europe Not Mexico. Regardless I think it should be torn down as it serves no useful purpose any longer.
As far as the wall goes I doubt it will be effective. Best deal would be bring back all American Armed Forces from around the world and put them on the border locked and loaded.
Not true.
The statue was a private gift from French citizens — the French government was not involved.
France likes to take credit for the US revolutionary war too — but once again the French government was not involved. Lafayette came of his own volition; Ben Franklin (and others) secured credit lines and borrowed money from “private sources” (many were merchants and some were lesser ranking royalty — but the French government was not involved).
Mexico might as well have sent a morse code telegraph saying how out of touch they are with the real world
“Mexican President Cancels Meeting With Trump”
And the nation mourns… LOL!
And the reaction of their stock market and peso… LOL!
Walls don’t work. China’s Great Wall did not keep out the Mongols. Trump’s wall willnot keep out the Mexicans that might want to still come here.
As I read on Zerohedge today: “That said, it is funny how the price suddenly just jumped: did Congress just realize the “wall” is just a different name for Congress’ favorite term, “pork”?”
Agree. Walls are made to get around. Gates are where the action is,,,
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/572/~/entering-the-u.s.—documents-required-for-foreign-nationals-(international
Simply get a day visa and don’t go back.
Interesting that Mexico provides around 8% of the oil consumed in the US, yet it’s drivers have to cross into AZ for cheaper gas? And while here, shop at the malls, eat at the restaurants, go to the movie theater. Sonora license plates everywhere.
“Walls don’t work.”
Yet Obama is having one built around the Washington D.C. mansion he is moving into. Then there is that guy in Hawaii.
Not a problem. If goods don’t cross borders, soldiers do. Got Defense Stocks?
NOTHING SAYS DEMOCRACY LIKE FASCISM…
just some food for thought:
Mexico was the United States’ 3rd largest supplier of goods imports in 2015.
U.S. goods imports from Mexico totaled $295 billion in 2015, up 0.2% ($667 million) from 2014, and up 73% from 2005. U.S. imports from Mexico are up 638% from 1993 (pre-NAFTA). U.S. imports from Mexico are up 638% from 1993 (pre-NAFTA).
The top import categories (2-digit HS) in 2015 were: vehicles ($74 billion), electrical machinery ($63 billion), machinery ($49 billion), mineral fuels ($14 billion), and optical and medical instruments ($12 billion).
U.S. imports of agricultural products from Mexico totaled $21 billion in 2015, our 2nd largest supplier of agricultural imports. Leading categories include: fresh vegetables ($4.8 billion), other fresh fruit ($4.3 billion), wine and beer ($2.7 billion), snack foods ($1.7 billion), and processed fruit & vegetables ($1.4 billion).
U.S. imports of services from Mexico were an estimated $21.6 billion in 2015, 11.0% ($2.1 billion) more than 2014, and 50.0% greater than 2005 levels. It was up roughly 191% from 1993 (pre-NAFTA). Based on 2014, leading services imports from Mexico to the U.S. were in the travel, transportation, and technical and other services sectors.
SOURCE: https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/mexico
Who cares about such riches, Peter? Remember: the rapists. We must protect our women from their hordes of rapists.
Now, if we really want to punish Mexican inhabitants, we’d intensify the war on drugs, destabilizing Mexico like nothing else can. The wall is just theater. But why do we want to punish Mexico? Oh yeah, the rapists.
Serious question I’d love to know the answer to: How man of those imports are from American companies who found it cheaper to set up shop in Mexico and send their products back north?
Root Hog – bingo! Trump is actually going after the U.S. multinationals (in Mexico, China and elsewhere) who have had a sweet deal exporting goods back into the U.S. He’s telling them that they need to bring their jobs home.
Oh well I don’t like Corona beer anyway. I read that it contains antifreeze (propylene glycol).
It is time to end the trade deficit. It can be done by ending the budget deficit. Countries exporting to the US with no place to send their dollars without buying UST being coked with dollars would raise their prices.
Exactly! Replace Federal Reserve Note Debt Currency with Honest Money and all these disparities would disappear.
I for one am not interested in spending more money for products I buy to keep Trump voters employed!
I have never seen a u.s. president this entertaining. Ronald Reagan can’t even come close.
It’s amusing to see Mexico get excited over the US building a wall at the Border yet they have very strict immigration requirements for their own country. Build the wall, renegotiate NAFTA. Long overdue.
That’s the solution.
Adopt Mexico’s immigration laws.
Adopt Mexico’s immigration laws. Create a Mexican economy right here in the U.S. Of course, too many immigrants will have the same effect.
Big deal…like we need to fear the country that invented the snow cone….
Mexico has no leverage with America. They need us. We don’t need them. If they want to play hardball – they lose. The peso plunged today.
Pena-Nieto is a spoiled brat. He and his predecessors have been playing the US like a fiddle for decades with the $60 billion trade surpluses and sending all his garbage illiterate/indigent citizens to America that we are forced to provide free social services. Well, the gravy train has come to a stop. There’s a new sheriff in town.
How would Pena-Nieto like it if we send all our ghetto residents into Mexico to leech off their taxpayers? He’d blow a gasket. But he feels that he’s entitled to do it to our country – which has resulted in tremendous financial and social damage.
Screw him.
You are assuming that our ghetto residents could get through Mexico’s immigration process.
There are no sanctuary cities in Mexico for illegal Americans. Nor would the Mexican government pay to educate illegal American (Spanish as a Second Language) children in English. Nor would the Mexican government agree to provide free health care to illegal Americans. Nor would the Mexican government give illegal Americans Mexican driver;s licenses.
The relationship between America and Mexico is like a marriage made in hell with the USA on the losing end.
1/3 of Mexico’s GDP is from wired remittances sent from the USA by Mexicans living in America, both legal and illegal.
Nieto-Pena had better mind his P’s and Q’s. Beggars can’t be choosers. The time’s come for Trump to teach him a lesson.
Agreed OldTimer! So who are the idiots here?? If I were an illegal alien, I’d be grabbing all I could as well. Our politicians and policymakers and the idiots who keep electing them couldn’t be any more fucked up than they are and all the policies you outline above are clear proof of that.
You’re right, Root Hog. Although the illiterate/indigent Mexicans knowingly broke our immigration laws and stole jobs (there are labor laws too!). the ones who bear the brunt of the blame are the elite scumbags in charge who allowed them to get away with it for decades. The behavior’s been normalized so when we try to enforce our laws and protect our country – the other side calls us a-holes. That’s how bizarre this situation has become.
There are millions of LAWFUL immigrant applicants overseas who have filled out and submitted their applications, paid their fees, taken their tests, provided information for health and background checks, and wait in line for 10 years or more to come to America because we’re saturated with illegals who have stolen jobs and there’s no room for the lawful immigrants. How f’ed up is that? We could EASILY replace all the illegal migrants with lawful immigrants AFTER our own citizen underclass is gainfully employed and lead productive lives.
Trump recognizes the problem and is doing something about it. The others were probably taking bribes and turning a blind eye selling out their own countrymen. Traitors!!!
“So who are the idiots here?? If I were an illegal alien, I’d be grabbing all I could as well.”
Seriously?
American voters are the idiots.
Why stop with a wall, some insults, and some taxes? We could overrun Mexico with a surprise attack. Take their oil, and limes and avocados. Pay for the wall and more. Maybe take some of their women (eye-for-an eye payback for the rapists they’ve sent us). Have the Marines occupy Cabo to protect the title of American expatriate condo owners (as fine a justification for an incursion as the need to protect med students in Grenada). So, you’re right; given our army, ultimately they have no leverage.
In fact, with our armed forces, why do we ever trade? Why don’t we always just take what we want? Ensure a trade surplus, everywhere. The Trump doctrine might become: balance of “trade” surplus by any means necessary. Essentially the same thing as what he’s trying for now, a balance of trade by force of protectionist trade agreements, but even more dramatic.
“In fact, with our armed forces, why do we ever trade? Why don’t we always just take what we want? Ensure a trade surplus, everywhere.”
That’s how governments work against their own populations anyway.
Ah, the Genghis Kahn theory of government.
Yes, I have long advocated taking over Mexico and dividing it into states. We get the oil, new tax revenue, nice climate, no more illegal immigrant complaints! Mexico gets the resources of the USA, the protection of the worlds most expensive and also strongest military, no more illegal immigration problems, a lot more tourists visiting the new states and Donal Trump as their new leader. What’s not to like? [lol]
“Railroads Union Pacific Corp. and Kansas City Southern have spent billions of dollars upgrading cross-border infrastructure in recent years, while a million square feet of industrial real estate is under construction around Laredo, according to Colliers International, a real-estate brokerage, and industrial construction activity hit its highest level since 2008 in Tijuana, Mexico last year, according to CBRE Group Inc., another brokerage. Most of these projects were planned before the election.”
NOW we get to the HEART of the matter. You see folks, Mish and his friends (the 1/10th of 1%) have already made TRILLIONS in investments, and planned TRILLIONS more for their ONE WORLD GLOBALIST “MONOPOLIST” EMPIRE. They really DO want to RULE the world…ALL of the world. Just ask David Rockefeller. Forget that, just get a copy of his book…”MEMOIRS”….
——————————————–
http://opengov.ideascale.com/a/dtd/David-Rockefeller-s-book-Memoirs-admits-secretly-conspiring-for-a-NWO/4007-4049
In David Rockefeller’s book ‘Memoirs’ he admits he is part of a secret cabal working to destroy the United States and create a new world order. Here is the direct quote from his book, pg 405:
“Some even believe we [Rockefeller family] are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as ‘internationalists’ and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure – One World, if you will.If that’s the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it ”
“We are grateful to The Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subject to the bright lights of publicity during those years. But, the work is now much more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a World Government.The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto-determination practiced in past centuries ”
” The end goal is to get everybody chipped, to control the whole society, to have the bankers and the elite people control the world ”
– Nick Rockefeller [ Aaron Russo interview ]
——————————————–
Do YOU realize how fucked we are ?
Do YOU realize YOUR country sold YOU down the river over 50+ years ago ?
Do YOU realize that YOU are truly living in a FOREIGN LAND ?
And do YOU realize that DONALD J TRUMP, with all his failings, has the BALLS to stand up to at least SOME of the bullshit that has been rammed down our throats (or up another orifice) for DECADES ?
LIVE FREE OR DIE.
Junk word salad with a heavy dose of RA RA RA. Funny yet sad.
The idea of a wall is sheer insanity. But I’m all for it because it will hasten the collapse of this miserable shithole our country has become. I spent most of my career working with illegal aliens. They come here for jobs and then end up getting welfare once they’re here and find out how easy it is to grab all the freebies. If you want to stop the whole problem overnight, start requiring employers to have a credit card type machine in every office to do an instant verification of green cards and social security cards. Last time I crossed on foot from Mexico into Nogales, Arizona, all the Mexican day workers had exactly that: a magnetic stripe on their green cards which they had to swipe at the border. If the solution is THAT simple, and it is, you have to ask yourself why they aren’t implementing it. The cost could be on the business owners to get the machine, so the government cost would be nothing compared to building a wall. Today, employers have no responsibility to verify credentials. I saw SS cards done with colored pencils for crying out loud. I saw one with the number 123-45-6789. I shit you not. I can spot a fake in five seconds but employers are not required to do anything about it, just make photocopies and then plead ignorance if the Feds ever show up, which they never do. It’s all just more government BS and Boobus americanus doesn’t have a clue. Don’t believe the BS that building a wall will stop anything and certainly don’t believe the BS that any politicians want to fix the problem. Democrats love illegals for the welfare programs, Republicans love them for cheap labor that Americans won’t do. Who does that leave to fix the so-called problem? Don’t be manipulated about this wall bullshit!
you could shorten “1/10th of 1%” to “0.1%” or even “.1%”
are you saying mish is one of the .1% or only his friends?
regardless, which friends would those be? maybe mish doesn’t even know he has friends in that club — do the .1% even advertise their membership in that club, especially to their “friends”?
(more) FAKE NEWS: Media Report State Department Employees Quit En Masse. They Were Fired. – Jan 26, 2017 minutes ago
http://www.dailywire.com/news/12838/fake-news-media-report-state-department-employees-ben-shapiro
LOL… The media bias is simply hilarious. BTW, the report seems to have begun with the AP, the huge, “trusted” media outfit who griped about no longer being called upon first during WH press conferences.
What idiots they are making themselves out to be, at least to anyone who doesn’t have permanent “fact blinders” on.
Very believable to those who have mashed potatoes for brains. These guys would have quit long before the arrival of the new boss.
And what does this have to do with the wall? You’re just a precious little snowflake, aren’t you.
Appropriate response from Mexico: We see your 20% and raise you to 25% import tax on all US goods. Remember who your third largest trading “partner” is. Who will pay for this wall? The American consumer. First by debt incurred by the Federal govt to build it and second by an import duty passed along the supply chain to the finished goods they buy.
Most of what we sell Mexico is gasoline — because Pemex has no clue how to refine crude oil, and no capital to build a refinery anyhow.
If you bothered to look — Pemex’s inability to produce even crude oil is now hampering el-presidente spoiled-brato’s ability to subsidize gasoline prices. He was already forced to raise them, leading to massive strife — and being a politician of course he blamed everyone else (school of Obozo graduate).
Drug gangs in Mexico are now making more money from stealing gasoline (from Pemex pipes and gas stations) and reselling it to Mexican citizens (those who cooperate anyway). Drug gangs do not have complete control of northern mexico, but they are coming close.
Southern mexico has been a semi-autonomous failed state since Zapata times. Its Venezeula without the oil.
If there was a 25% tax on gasoline into Mexico — I would give the Mexican government maybe a week before they lose control over the rest of the country.
Mexico’s president relies on ignorant, poorly educated people (including Beezle) to prop up his ego, because that’s all mexico’s government has.
If Mexico cuts off cheap car parts and Chinese imports that bypassed Long Beach CA? Who cares? Govt Motors will need yet another bailout, the longshoreman union will celebrate. Walmart and Amazon will have to ship their cheap imports a different way
Mexico needs to remember the golden rule – he who has the gold makes the rules. Trump will make some kind of deal and Mexico will have to take it.
Ever heard of just-in-time-delivery? If Mexico stops delivering car parts etc. US car/truck production will end in less a week due to missing parts.
VW went through that in Germany when a car seat manufacturer in Czech Republic did not like the new terms and stopped deliveries. VW ran out of these parts in less a week and had to offer better terms to them. First time a supplier played hardball with the BIG guys.
So Government Motors will need yet another bailout?
How is that different from what will happen after the off-lease deluge of used cars hits new car prices?
Mexico’s president is a moron who refutes his own argument.
He thinks Trump should “respect Mexico’s sovereignty” … that way Mexico can continue to disrepect US sovereignty.
Then he goes on to say Mexico’s consultates in the US will continue to defy US laws, because nothing says respect like sticking your middle finger up at your host.
The Wall is a fricking money pit that will hamper illegals but not stop them. If Trump really wants to stop illegals he would be looking at the large corporations and businesses that hire them and hold them accountable. Stopping fed funds to sanctuary cities is a start.
Holding employers liable for hiring with stiff fines and jail time would put a stop to most illegal immigration period without a money sink called a wall. If illegals cannot find jobs they will go home as they did in the past.
I agree we need to get control of our borders though. If you cannot control your darn borders you cease to be a country. No jobs and no money for illegals would halt them in their tracks but not going to happen.
On the flip side we do need to revamp our immigration process as it is really hard to become a citizen of the USA unless your a H1B or rich. I went through the process with my first wife who was Japanese. We do need worker visas for agriculture if Americans do not want to do the job. Anchor babies needs to be outlawed period. I know many poor people that are American citizens yet a Mexican family gets a four bedroom home on our dime and because they had a child in the USA. Not one other person in this household could speak English and they have 6 kids. Not one adult could speak English. This needs to stop.
Mexico has serious problems their government needs to address but working in El Paso in the late 80’s there are a lot more then Mexicans crossing the border some are from the Middle East and from around the world. We pointed out to the local INS but they cannot stop everyone, go to a border town and you will really see the problems as you just do not shoot people because they cross the border, the numbers are just too great on a daily basis.
Like I said the only way to stop this is to hold employers accountable, otherwise this is a joke.
+100
Good points Old Guy but holding employers accountable won’t do anything to keep terrorists and criminals who are not interested in work out of the US.
Mexico needs “free trade” withbis more than we need it with them. Their #1 economic import is money from Mexicans in the US back to their families in Mexico.
To the person bemoaning the heroin deaths, just look at them as verily late term abortions. It’s all OK.
Politics requires that both sides back off, make their “statements” and meet after the dust settles.
Yes but the order is statements, back off, then meet up to negotiate.
I’m sure The Donald knows that. I read a book on negotiating technique once. The Donald’s methods may seem extreme to some people, but I can tell you he has also read the book.
Mexico’s President is angry because he’s afraid that wall will trap too many Mexicans in Mexico. He’s trying to empty the place and that wall’s not going to help his cause any!
The Mexican politicians scream how unfair tariffs would be, and how they would damage the volume of trade between the 2 countries, and how building the wall would be so disrespectful of Mexico. Please allow me to point out why his arguments hold nothing but hot air.
This is a country whose government published a pamphlet for to aid illegals getting into America! Yes, the Mexican handed pout pamphlets to tens of thousands of illegals instructing them on how to illegally cross our borders and use our legal system and welfare programs for their benefit.
This is a country whose government is handing out travel passes to illegals pouring through Mexico from Somalia, Pakistan, Haiti, Syria, etc. which protects them from arrest by Mexican police for 20 days which gives them time to get across our border. The Mexican government is aiding and abetting these hoards of illegals to break our laws, disrespect our borders, and milk our social systems.
This is a country who held a blind eye when Mexican interests bribed at least one American government official to slant the area of the NAFTA agreement he was working on in their favor, We know of at least one because he was caught and admitted to it in August 1993 in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. His name was Robert Bostick and he was a high ranking official in the Labor Dept under Sect. of Labor Lynn Martin. He got 10% of the profits from a hundred million dollar housing project.
Bostick admitted to betraying America at the negotiating table in August 1993 and Congress passed the NAFTA Trade Agreement 3 months later without repairing the damage done by Bostick, nor did they investigate if any other parts of the trade treaty had been compromised. Were there other officials bought by Mexican interests? Nobody knows because there was no investigation launched to look at that possibility. The grease was spread around and the fix was in. The Washington Swamp operated in it’s usual and customary manner.
Mexico hired a dozen top Beltway law/ lobbying firms to promote NAFTA . Prominent among them were Burston-Marsteller and Shearman & Sterling who each received over $ 5 Million from the Mexican Govt. In the meantime the Mexican business group, COECE, was flying Congressmen and their staff on paid Mexican junkets which included informational lectures on the benefits of NAFTA. The records show that roughly 50 congressional staff members received Mexican trips paid by COECE. Since the money came from the “business” community and not the Mexican government, these perks were legal.
Former U.S. officials registered as NAFTA Lobbyists included:
1 Former U.S. Trade Representative and 4 Asst. or Deputy US
Trade Representatives
1 Former Cabinet Secretary and 6 Asst/ Deputy Secretaries
1 Former Congressman and 12 former officers of Congress
5 Former Ambassadors or other Government officials
1 Former State Governor
Former U.S. trade Representative William Brock testified before Congress in favor of NAFTA without mentioning that he was employed by Mexico at $30,000 per month as a NAFTA lobbyist.
America went from running trade surpluses with Mexico before NAFTA to running massive trade DEFICITS after NAFTA. America has been running a trade deficit every year since 1976. Simply stated we have been buying more than we have been producing and that never worked out for any country in the history of the world. Along with budget deficits, the trade deficits have been the main causes for the DEvaluation of the dollar and that has effected the purchasing power (read standard of living) of every American, but particularly the middle and lower classes.
Yes, America was sold out. So excuse me if I don’t respect Mexico’s government.
There is a problem trying to make comments on the articles. Try to fix it please. Ron