NationStates Jolt Archive

CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement, is being touted by many Republicans as a great way to open markets to US made products. The same thing was said about NAFTA. NAFTA ended up sucking jobs out of the USA, and hasn't enriched the Mexican population enough for them to go out and buy that new Cadilac (which is now mostly manufactured in Mexico anyway).

I firmly beleive CAFTA will only serve to lower US wages further and drive more US citizens into poverty, while enriching those who own loads of stock in multinational corporations. What do you think?

CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement, is being touted by many Republicans as a great way to open markets to US made products. The same thing was said about NAFTA. NAFTA ended up sucking jobs out of the USA, and hasn't enriched the Mexican population enough for them to go out and buy that new Cadilac (which is now mostly manufactured in Mexico anyway).

I firmly beleive CAFTA will only serve to lower US wages further and drive more US citizens into poverty, while enriching those who own loads of stock in multinational corporations. What do you think?
Globalization is inevitable. I suggest you make your peace with it.

Globalization is inevitable. I suggest you make your peace with it.
Thats pretty much dead on.

CAFTA, just like NAFTA will not change the fact that US protectionist policies are still in place, while any similar policies in other signatory nations must be stripped. These are not really free trade agreements. They are "you open up completely, and we'll do it a little bit" agreements. So no, I'm not for it.

CAFTA does not have to be a part of globalisation! Being against wantonly imbalanced agreements like this is not the same as being anti-globalisation.

Globalization is inevitable. I suggest you make your peace with it.
Globalization should be accompanied by certain standards, like minimum wages, the right to organize a union, and some pollution control. Without that it will only serve to enslave the third world, impoverish the workers in the rest of the world, and poison everyone who breathes air or drinks water.

Globalization should be accompanied by certain standards, like minimum wages, the right to organize a union, and some pollution control. Without that it will only serve to enslave the third world, impoverish the workers in the rest of the world, and poison everyone who breathes air or drinks water.
Which makes a really good argument for redesigning the United Nations, yes? :)

Which makes a really good argument for redesigning the United Nations, yes? :)
Either them or the WTO. Someone should guarantee certain minimum protections for workers and the environment or globalization will cause serious long term problems.

Which makes a really good argument for redesigning the United Nations, yes? :)
That's, that's, that's just so... reasonable. There's no hope for it!

Either them or the WTO. Someone should guarantee certain minimum protections for workers and the environment or globalization will cause serious long term problems.
There are signs that the WTO is finally heading in the right direction, thanks to the increasing bargaining power (and unity) of the developing world.

Globalization should be accompanied by certain standards, like minimum wages, the right to organize a union, and some pollution control. Without that it will only serve to enslave the third world, impoverish the workers in the rest of the world, and poison everyone who breathes air or drinks water.
You know...every time you go off about illegal immigrants, you then redeem yourself with something like this. I just can't decide to love or hate you!!??

Last I heard was that Canada, Mexico and by now Brazil aren't too happy with this CAFTA.

What products? Cars? Lol, yeah right. And I can get coke without any trade agreement just as easily.

You know...every time you go off about illegal immigrants, you then redeem yourself with something like this. I just can't decide to love or hate you!!??
You could always be confused and ambivalent.

You could always be confused and ambivalent.
Damnit. You mean stay the same? Grrrr...

CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement, is being touted by many Republicans as a great way to open markets to US made products. The same thing was said about NAFTA. NAFTA ended up sucking jobs out of the USA, and hasn't enriched the Mexican population enough for them to go out and buy that new Cadilac (which is now mostly manufactured in Mexico anyway).

NAFTA has been, overall, good for the three countries. US-Mexico trade has grown a lot since, that means both exports and imports have grown. The US deficit with Mexico has grown too, but it's not unmanageable. Although Mexicans haven't become much wealthier, the economic foundation is much stronger now, so it's just a matter of time.

The US problem is with China, with which they don't have a free trade agreement. More espcifically, China needs to float its currency.


I firmly beleive CAFTA will only serve to lower US wages further and drive more US citizens into poverty, while enriching those who own loads of stock in multinational corporations. What do you think?
It will make some people rich, some people poor, then things will level out, hopefully better than they were before. Overall I think free trade is better.

Oh, yes, the US has to stop protectionist policies and subsidies, and accept WTO and NAFTAs decisions if they want these treaties to really work.

I cant imagine there is anything seriously wrong with free trade in itself. Free trade works excellently in the EU. I think it is more likely to be the fault of any of the participating countries economic policyies rather than the introduction of free trade. If you have free trade, you rearly should adjust your economy to compensate.

I'd like to see the rich world stop protectionism like they say everyone else should do for a change. Practice what they preach. If they really want free trade, then make it free for ALL.

Sinuhue, I'd go further. Open up developed country markets but allow developing countries to maintain protectionist measures. How did developed countries get where they are today? Through protectionism when their economies were in their infancy. Why is China bucking the global trend of slow growth? They utilise protectionist policies.

Securing basic workers' rights etc doesn't have to translate as placing untenable restrictions on the free market.

Sinuhue, I'd go further. Open up developed country markets but allow developing countries to maintain protectionist measures. How did developed countries get where they are today? Through protectionism when their economies were in their infancy. I agree with you, but I also realise this would never be allowed. Ever.

We keep preaching to the developing world to do as we say, not as we've done if they want to be like us. Kind of silly.

I cant imagine there is anything seriously wrong with free trade in itself. Free trade works excellently in the EU. I think it is more likely to be the fault of any of the participating countries economic policyies rather than the introduction of free trade. If you have free trade, you rearly should adjust your economy to compensate.
It works so well in the EU because you have unions, minimum wage laws, and legal protection for workers. Many third world countries don't. Opening a factory there is like buying slaves.

Not to mention the fact that developing countries simply aren't being allowed to secure their own industries, thanks to structural adjustment programmes, etc.