Mexico slaps tariffs on US products in dispute [McCain expresses regret]

AFP ^ | 2009-03-16

[rabscuttle385]

MEXICO CITY (AFP) — Mexico on Monday said it would place tariffs on nearly 90 US products after Washington canceled a program that allowed some trucks from Mexico to operate in the United States.

There is to be an "increase in customs duty on almost 90 industrial and agricultural products," Economy Minister Gerardo Ruiz Mateos said in a statement.

Ruiz said the increase would represent some 2.4 billion dollars, but did not name the products.

. . . . .

The move drew a sharp rebuke from US Senator John McCain, who said he regretted Mexico's decision and also lashed out at US President Barack Obama and lawmakers for backing "protectionist" policies.

"I deeply regret the action taken by the Mexican government and the harm it may cause to American businesses," said McCain, who lost his bid for the presidency in 2008 to Obama.

"Unfortunately, this is a predictable reaction by the Mexican government to a policy that now puts the United States in clear violation of the North American Free Trade Agreement," he added.

"We must take steps to prevent escalation of further protectionist measures -- actions that only serve to harm American business during these tough economic times when these businesses need a worldwide marketplace to prosper."

[Mase]

Man they are dumb in Japan, don’t they know that if they opened their markets to our beef and rice farmers, their domestic beef and rice industries would magically flourish i guess?

LOL! Yeah, if only we could be more like Japan. Then we could have two decades of recession and deflation and a national debt that's more than 200% of GDP. Those would be good times. What a loon.

[DesertRhino]

You know what, i don’t believe ive called you any names. B the clown is you, jackass. You just proved that we are able to import around 100 cars a year into Japan. And also rice,,how much rice? About the same dollar value as the STEREO equipment we export to Japan.

We could flood Japan with better quality rice, but for some reason our rice exports to them barely double our musical instrument exports.

Not too bright are ya? Yes, Japan brutally restricts imports of anything they build there. Cars get rejected for import for flaws in PAINT. Rice is a practial impossibility. Read your own chart.

[pissant]

Nope. That’s like saying Reagan would approve of the staggeringly retarded trade we have with China now just because he was willing to do some trade with the chicoms.

[1010RD]

Eventually, we will need those emotional hornets like in say, 2012 or 2010. They'll have to be educated if we're going to defeat Obama’s agenda.

If he and his minions are able to discredit free markets they'll take down the greatest nation the earth has witnessed to date.

Already, over decades, they've reduced down the ability of our economy to produce jobs and wealth by a significant amount. Too many people who are allegedly conservatives think government protects them and keeps them safe.

This cannot be further from the truth. We need to become a nation of fierce entrepreneurs again.

[Toddsterpatriot]

$66 billion in exports, versus your claim of nothing. LOL!

[cripplecreek]

Aww geeze


they need to remember that in my dad's playbook, protection of the American people came before anything else.

Take the case of Harley-Davidson. My father protected this American manufacturer of motorcycles against lower-priced Japanese imports. When he acted in behalf of an American company, Kawasaki and Honda reacted by moving their plants to the U.S. and created American jobs for American workers.

His policy was so successful that although he gave five years of protective tariffs to Harley-Davison, they didn’t even need that long a time before they could turn their company around. Given a level playing field they proved their superiority as an American manufacturer.

Ronald Reagan did the same thing with semiconductors, and the auto and steel industries. He also forced the Japanese and others to open up their markets to American products so that trade would be fair. When that didn’t happen he would impose tariffs on those products coming into the U.S., thus protecting American manufacturers.

Sure, he was a free trader who wanted too open up trade, but he always sought first to protect the sovereignty of the United States and its manufacturing base. He did not confuse free trade with giving the store away.

The effects of our current trade policies and the horrendous trade deficit they have produced are a gun pointed at the heart of our economy, and the Republican who can stand up and tell the truth about this problem and its solutions will be the one who emerges from the pack.

Michael Reagan on Ronald Reagan, free trade

[1rudeboy]

1. 66 billion dollars of goods (not including services, mind you) is not a number to scoff at, but more importantly
2. you can't point to a country with which we have no free trade agreement and use it as an argument against a country with which we do.

[1rudeboy]

I was wondering when you’d post that, LOL. I haven’t quite wrapped my mind around why I should take Michael Reagan at his word (in a single column), while ignoring all of Ronald Reagan’s own writings spanning decades.

[SwinneySwitch]

Old Mexico!

If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.

[1rudeboy]

I’d wager Reagan would not have traded with China, but with regard to Mexican trucks delivering goods from Mexico into the United States he’d have laughed in your face.

[cripplecreek]

I haven’t quite wrapped my mind around why I should take Michael Reagan at his word (in a single column), while ignoring all of Ronald Reagan’s own writings spanning decades.

Because he was telling the truth. (something you don't appear to have mastered)

[edcoil]

“Mexico and Canada are the primary markets for U.S export, followed by Europe and Japan. Capital goods have been the largest category of U.S exports. This includes automobiles, engines, parts, and industrial equipments.”

Seem like dead industries - killed by government and unions.

[1rudeboy]

I understand your sentiment. But the protectionists on this thread can not be convinced. They're like the Taliban, in a way.

If it wasn't for the Second Amendment or abortion they'd be flaming Democrats.

[1rudeboy]

Wait a minute. Ronald Reagan wasn't telling the truth, and we need to rely on someone else to explain what he really meant? How effed-up is that?

[HiJinx]

Ping!

[calcowgirl]

Screw NAFTA!

Food Independence, NOW!

[cripplecreek]

You’re the one who called Michael Reagan a liar not me.

[pissant]

You probably wouldn't have wagered that Reagan would have said anything as protectionist as this...

Japan is part of the problem. This is where government can be legitimately involved. That is, to convince the Japanese in one way or another that, in their own interests, that deluge of cars must be slowed while our industry gets back on its feet…. If Japan keeps on doing everything it’s doing…obviously there’s going to be what you call protectionism.

or this...

"The health and vitality of the U.S. semiconductor industry are essential to America's future competitiveness. We cannot allow it to be jeopardized by unfair trading practices."

Or this....

"Now, there are those in Congress who say our trade policies have not worked, but you, here at Harley-Davidson, are living proof that our laws are working. It's time to gun the engines, not put on the brakes."

[1rudeboy]

Wow! That’s almost exactly what W. said about the steel industry! Was he a protectionist, too?