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Mexico slaps tariffs on US products in dispute [McCain expresses regret]
AFP ^ | 2009-03-16

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Mexico
KEYWORDS: 111th; aliens; bho2009; bho44; mccain; mccaintruthfile; mexicantrucks; mexico; nafta; tariffs; tradewars; truckers; trucks
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To: 1010RD

Your liberty was subject to Federal government regulation of trade between nations, as mentioned before. Just as you cannot unilaterally declare war on a nation, neither can you unilaterally make foreign trade policy.

National security limitations are always necessary. The history of the world and our nation tells us that we will be at war whether we invite it or not on many occasions to come. The paramount duty of our federal government is to provide for the common defense.

After defense considerations, then it is an open question as to what products we protect or not, what constitutes the best and least restrictive or most sensible policy with a given nation. It is a delicate balance. But it is one that is the purview of we the people, as represented by our elected officials. It should never be the purview of anyone else.


201 posted on 03/16/2009 7:52:09 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: 1rudeboy

To me the American public is being groomed for socialism in the same way a pedophile grooms his victim.

They really don’t know any better. They are bombarded by a school system and media that are ignorantly Leftist.

The truth is the Left hates people and always has. If you judge them by their works they are the mass murderers of history.


202 posted on 03/16/2009 7:52:12 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: 1010RD
It is just that we can have free trade and be safe/have our standards met.

I not opposed to free trade. I was honestly surprised that Mexican trucks will have to pass US inspections.

203 posted on 03/16/2009 7:53:49 PM PDT by Doe Eyes
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To: cripplecreek

We lost the carrot and stick approach to China trade long ago. Now the commie bastards have grabbed the steering wheel. That is why we needed to elect Hunter. He would have shot the bastard in the head and taken back the wheel.


204 posted on 03/16/2009 7:54:09 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: pissant

LOL Sure wish he would take the GOP chair away from Steele.


205 posted on 03/16/2009 7:56:06 PM PDT by cripplecreek (The poor bastards have us surrounded.)
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To: pissant

Fine and mostly agreed.

Shouldn’t the defense issue be narrowly defined though?

What we’ve had is an enormous expansion of government by broadly defining the Commerce Clause, no? It has interrupted state’s rights and in the end the rights of the people.

If the defense issue is broad and interpreted by those ignorant of the benefits of freest trade, then you get sugar tariffs or subsidies to ADM for “national security” reasons.

You could even imagine an America in which our politicians made it impossible to industrialize or for the population to move to cities because our agricultural base was a “national security” issue, no?

In the end they were wrong, although many argued that you cannot have a nation without a massive agricultural population. Today we have the lowest farm population ever and grow the most ever.


206 posted on 03/16/2009 7:56:15 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: Doe Eyes

I am glad we had the conversation then. I was not certain as to how much compliance they had to meet.

I am delighted with the outcome of our “talk” and hope you are too.

Have a great evening.

Best regards...


207 posted on 03/16/2009 7:57:33 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: 1010RD
My “trade deficit” with my grocer, car dealer and local hotdog stand are enormous. Those jerks never bought a thing from me, but I am happy and so are they.

Seems pretty simple, doesn't it? I've wasted my breath here for years trying to explain the current account, the capital account and the balance of payments. The protectionists run and hide when you show them that our manufacturing, employment and GDP historically increase the most when the so called trade deficit is expanding the fastest. We experience "trade surpluses" when we're in recessions.

But really, the bottom line rests with the morality of free trade. Free people should be allowed to trade freely with whom they choose as long as no laws are broken. If they didn't both benefit they wouldn't execute the trade. If you don't believe in an individual's right to trade then you must believe that government bureaucrats are better equipped to determine what's in the individual's best interest; and that when it comes to trade, all of a sudden the fedgov becomes responsible, capable and reliable. Protectionists believe bigger government is the answer. Just like Reagan, right?

If schools would simply require everyone take and pass basic economics we wouldn't have to keep 'splaining it to them. But I'll keep trying.

208 posted on 03/16/2009 8:04:14 PM PDT by Mase (Save me from the people who would save me from myself!)
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To: cripplecreek
Apprently we never traded with anyone till the WTO came along and saved us. LOL

WORD!

If folks truly wanted "free trade" they would be calling for abolishment of free trade agreements and the WTO.

209 posted on 03/16/2009 8:04:17 PM PDT by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: Doe Eyes
Probably way too much information, but if you're curious:

FMCSA Regulations (concerning Mexican trucks).

Essentially, the Mexican long-haul trucks have to pass the same safety tests as U.S. trucks, have to have a U.S.-approved insurance carrier, a USDOT registration number, etc.

But keep in mind the short-haul trucks (the ones that enter, and have been entering all along, the 20-mile buffer zone). My understanding is that the regulations for them are relaxed.

210 posted on 03/16/2009 8:08:45 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: topsail

Very interesting and on the money and written in a cute way.

It’s quite wordy, so I skimmed some of it.

I know several people that live or have condos in Mexico, and they aren’t aware that they can own land there, because they know that the laws prohibit it.

Heck, one of them has a good Mexican friend who runs a restaurant and she wanted to work there just to pass the time when her husband was in the states.

She could not work for her friend, it’s Mexico.

You say the opposite, I don’t know why.


211 posted on 03/16/2009 8:11:12 PM PDT by Syncro (I'd rather regret something I did instead of regretting not doing it.)
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To: calcowgirl
If folks truly wanted "free trade" they would be calling for abolishment of free trade agreements and the WTO.

That's already the situation that exists with the economic powerhouses of Yemen and Belarus, to name two.

212 posted on 03/16/2009 8:11:55 PM PDT by 1rudeboy
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To: 1010RD

the Defense issue should not necessarily be narrowly defined, but it should be clearly defined.

Yes, the commerce clause has been abused terribly, particularly with regards to supposed interstate commerce. I would hazard a guess that 75% of what the feds do regarding interstate commerce is utter BS.

But they are answerable to us. We can sweep the worthless bastards out of office, and I recommend we do so. IOTW, I’m not in favor of creating a unelected international or even interstate supervisory entity that has authority over interstate commerce. I am, however, in favor of electing those who would kill off the executive branch’s Dept of Commerce, and who would devolve the labyrinth of nonsensical restrictions.


213 posted on 03/16/2009 8:13:53 PM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: Mase

You’re right. I always go to the morality issue of free trade/individual liberty.

When you abstract people just don’t get it. Our public school system, copied by private schools, really fails to teach basic logic and solid foundational math. In the end you have to have an argument that pushes aside the emotionalism and makes the experience real for individuals.

I think people are teachable. You have to find that common ground and clarify it to move forward. There is just too much disinformation out there and the interests that benefit have no reason to change it and all the money to expound on it, no?

I don’t think it is wasted breath. These people are solid citizens. They just don’t get economics, but they do get treachery on the part of government and they have the proper distrust of our enemies both within and without.

I think it is worse splitting the hairs with them just to nudge them closer to the reality of the benefits that accrue from free trade, even lopsided free trade in which America just imports.


214 posted on 03/16/2009 8:20:56 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: pissant
So in your little world, if we cut off trade with Mexico, there will be no oil available to us?

No, in my little world that would mean more oil is available for everyone but us. Maybe we could buy it from someone else or drill for it ourselves but what does that have to do with denying American individuals and companies the opportunity to sell their goods and services to Mexico?

Or do you like the Algore/Obama/Pelosi production policies.

There you go letting your emotions get the better of you again. What is it about basic freedoms that makes you clench so tightly?

And you can gloss over the “problems” Mexico has

Maybe you could remind where I "glossed" over those problems and then explain how those problems go away if we deny American companies and individuals the right to export to Mexico. You seem to believe that sending Americans to the unemployment office would correct these problems. How would that work exactly?

...but I was specifically referring to the current problems that illegal aliens are causing us today.

Then we're talking about two separate issues. You want a discussion about illegal immigration and this is a thread about trucking and trade. How does stopping American companies from exporting to Mexico end illegal immigration?

215 posted on 03/16/2009 8:23:08 PM PDT by Mase (Save me from the people who would save me from myself!)
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To: 1010RD

So you are saying that a Mexican truck could speed? Straddle both lanes? Drive against traffic?

Which US safety standards could they ignore?

Cute answer.

They could possibly do most of those as they are not required to learn the laws of the states they would be driving through.

But the answer you are avoiding "knowing" is the safety of the trucks themselves mainly.

Their trucks are quite unsafe as a rule, and they want written into the rules that they are immune from having to maintain them up to the quality of American trucks.

Also they would have a difficult time learning to drive on the right side of the road.

216 posted on 03/16/2009 8:24:12 PM PDT by Syncro (I'd rather regret something I did instead of regretting not doing it.)
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To: pissant
I'd put the CC abuse at near 90%. It was meant only to stop individual states from limiting free trade between states. Few people realize just how partisan early Americans were and how provincially they viewed their world.

It lead, in part, to our Civil War.

As for the clear national security interest how do you argue with ADM that food is not a national security issue? I mean just about anything can be a “national security” issue, no?

Can't you just see Rangle and Frank saying that housing or welfare or national health insurance are “national security” issues. You know it has been abused before, just to cover up embarrassments.

217 posted on 03/16/2009 8:24:33 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: 1010RD
To me the American public is being groomed for socialism in the same way a pedophile grooms his victim.

Alexis de Tocqueville said a long time ago, when he was studying what made American great, that American would not be brought to her knees by force. Instead, he believed we would be seduced into our demise. He was a wise man and a visionary.

218 posted on 03/16/2009 8:28:54 PM PDT by Mase (Save me from the people who would save me from myself!)
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To: Syncro
Your facts are not facts at all. They are patently false.

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.”

Check it out for yourself:

Cross Border Truck Safety Inspection Program

Those are the facts about the program. You've been misled. Why?

219 posted on 03/16/2009 8:29:41 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: Syncro
Mexconnect will answer most of your questions. Click on FAQ's.
220 posted on 03/16/2009 8:34:25 PM PDT by topsail
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