Posted on 03/16/2009 3:54:30 PM PDT by 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
I don’t want us to give away an inch of our sovereignty. Remeber, though, the radicalism of our American Revolution is individual liberty.
You blocking my ability to trade freely limits my liberty, no? It should only be done in cases of obvious and clear national security, no?
Given that are sugar tariffs national security or not?
As to trade agreements negotiated by “trade experts” you know they’d sell us out in a heartbeat, along with our president and congress. You’d really trust them?
This FTA with Japan that you favor? How do you expect them to sign on without agreeing to a method for dispute resloution?
See you Josip, you just keep thinking free trade protects America. Or do you spell it with a K?
You must have missed this post:
Let’s speak from facts not emotion or hyperbole:
“While seizing commercial opportunities is important, doing it safely is vital. That is why I traveled to Monterrey, Mexico, yesterday to announce that U.S. inspectors will conduct in-person safety audits to make sure that participating Mexican companies meet every United States safety regulation on the books.
The inspection program is tough, and it is meant to ensure safe operation of trucks crossing our border. Drivers must have a valid commercial driver’s license, carry proof that they are medically fit, and comply with United States hours-of-service rules. And they must be able to understand and respond in English to questions and directions from inspectors.
The trucks must be insured by a U.S.-licensed firm. And from hood to tail-lamps, they must meet United States safety standards, including brakes, turn signals, and cargo-securing equipment.
Companies that satisfy these safety standards and are accepted into the demonstration program will be allowed to operate beyond the border areas to make international deliveries and pick-ups only. Mexican trucks will not be able to pick up goods in one U.S. city for delivery to another. And no trucks hauling hazardous materials or buses carrying passengers will be involved.”
Cross Border Truck Safety Inspection Program
None is needed when each nation sets its own policy. They can drop tariffs and not have them imposed upon them.
What is the need for a dispute resolving agency,,,its called d-i-p-l-o-m-a-t-s.
Among their traditional jobs Josip.
Absurd. Is it unionism or racism that drives most of it?
It certainly is not self-interest or national interest.
Our national interest is best served by free trade, as free as possible and who cares if they reciprocate. Give us your real goods in exchange for our paper money.
Man, I wish I could get more of it.
You can't hold two contradictory positions at once.
OK, so we hammer those firms that harm our national security by breaking the law and selling real technology to our enemies.
At the same time, we should sign all the bilateral trade agreements we can, even if they are lopsided and won’t let us trade a thing in their own country.
You see the logic in that right?
Mostly just emotionalism.
A while back while whining about American “Protectionism”, the Chinese suggested that we would lose our moral authority to oppose protectionism. I remember thinking to myself that we never had any such moral authority.
Anyone who seriously believes that the world will stop trading with us is a fool. Canada is bitching about our nation of orgin food labeling law but they aren’t going anywhere because they know they will still get the best deal from us. Another side effect is that we might force our government to drop the stupid overregulation that prevents mining and industry in this country.
So now, a Big Government conservative expresses his undying faith in the State Department, probably the most anti-American branch of the Executive Branch. You guys crack me up. Don’t stop.
But, it is rooted in some perception. Clearly, they are pro-American.
They just don’t understand that free trade is pro-American.
It seems to me their issues are caught up in the abuse of the Welfare State. In that they are right, but it is the Marxist stuff and the lack of understanding of basic economics that can be corrected, no?
So in your little world, if we cut off trade with Mexico, there will be no oil available to us? They are third on the import list behind the Saudis and Canada. You think it would be a bad idea for us to be able to produce more ourselves instead of relying on Mexico? Or do you like the Algore/Obama/Pelosi production policies.
And you can gloss over the “problems” Mexico has, but I was specifically referring to the current problems that illegal aliens are causing us today.
Sure she can, it's a woman's prerogative.
People who ultimately base their beliefs on emotion are easily swayed by populist arguments. Some populist demagogues take advantage by presenting themselves as conservatives. The circuit is easily closed, and the dupe thinks that his principles haven’t been compromised.
Like Huckabee? I know so many otherwise conservative union folks who are just nuts about free trade. I think it must be a pocketbook issue or indoctrination.
The unions spend a lot of time indoctrinating their members with outright lies that just get repeated again and again.
Sounds like all the proper precautions have been taken, and their is no reason to oppose Mexican trucks traveling in the USA.
I guess McCain is right after all.
Making their people pay higher prices to protect their industries and farmers from competition is a good thing in your opinion? If you really knew anything about Japan you'd understand that the protection of industry and their distribution networks enriches a few at the expense of the many. The Japanese may appear to be wealthy but I can assure you that most of them don't feel that way.
Their stagnation/recession/deflation has to do with a lot of things but it would most certainly help them is they would do more to embrace freer markets, especially when it comes to trade. Then they might be able to create domestic demand so they wouldn't have to export their way to prosperity. You pretend to know about the Japanese model but as someone who has lived there and done business there for a long time, it is obvious that you really don't have a clue of what you're talking about.
The worm has turned, they said. I took a look at the numbers behind the poll, and found that 66% of the same respondents were in favor of some form of socialized healthcare. The worm has turned, I agreed. Hello, President Obama.
Come on. You know McCain is not completely right.
It is just that we can have free trade and be safe/have our standards met.
This stuff can work. We just cannot be knee jerk about it. In this case it was done right.
We should support it because it makes America richer and keeps us on top.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.