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 Editorials | Issues | February 2008 
U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez: NAFTA a Success, Should be Strengthened
 Jessica Bernstein-Wax - Associated Press
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| | U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez | | |
Mexico City U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said Wednesday that NAFTA has been a boon for the United States, Mexico and Canada, but the three signatory countries should help small Mexican farmers who have suffered from the pact.
When the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect in 1994, it contained a provision letting Mexico levy protective farm tariffs temporarily while upgrading its agricultural industry.
That phase-in period ended Jan. 1, and Mexican farms mostly tiny plots of 12 acres (5 hectares) or less still lag behind.
Gutierrez, in Mexico City for a conference on strengthening Mexico's transportation, energy and environmental infrastructure, said NAFTA has brought economic gains to all three nations such as helping lower U.S. unemployment from 6.9 percent in 1993 to 4.9 percent last year. More than 30 percent of U.S. foreign trade is through the trade pact, he said.
If NAFTA weren't a success, the numbers wouldn't be like that, Gutierrez said.
He did acknowledge, however, the difficulties many small Mexican farms face and said the three countries need to collaborate to help dislocated farmers participate in a more dynamic and growing economy.
He did not give details or address complaints by farmers and activists that NAFTA has mostly benefited big producers here, while small growers struggle to compete with U.S. farmers who enjoy better transportation and distribution systems, lower costs and bigger subsidies.
Earlier this month, tens of thousands of demonstrators, marched through Mexico City to demand that officials renegotiate the removal of the last tariff protections for key crops like corn and beans.
Mexican officials say farmers are getting help, and that Mexico's corn production is rising.
What we want to do is continue strengthening NAFTA because it has been an enormous success, Gutierrez said Wednesday at a news conference, speaking in both Spanish and English. We need to make North America a place that continues attracting investment and is more competitive with the rest of the world. |
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