NAFTA

Origin

The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA, is an agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Originally NAFTA was signed and put into effect in 1994. It is designed to eliminate tariffs on imported goods from these countries.

NAFTA

As NAFTA was designed it should guarantee that American workers will remain the most competitive in the world and Americans will have access to the worlds finest goods and services.

NAFTA

NAFTA’s effects should also provide cheaper goods and increase U.S. exports, making them more affordable to the rest of the world, since products will be cheaper without a tariff attached.

NAFTA

Everyday that NAFTA is in effect, American people benefit in some way. For example, eliminating tariffs on electronics brings greater choices at competitive prices.

NAFTA

There are always two sides to every story. We have on opinion from the negative side. I would like to introduce Isabelle, “Many anti-NAFTA protestors state that heartless corporations have tossed hard-working Americans into the welfare system.”

NAFTA

They have also stated NAFTA has caused many corporations to move jobs to the Mexican border where laborers work long hours in filthy condition.

For one family in the U.S. NAFTA has had a very negative effect, the Breining family. Mrs Breining, who worked for Woolrich sports for 24 years, lost her job a year after the pact was signed.

Officials had promised to keep production in this country, but less than a year after NAFTA went into effect, the temptation of Mexico- where apparel workers earn an average of $1 per hour apparently was too much to resist

NAFTA

Shortly after the agreement was signed Woolrich fired 450 employees and hired Mexican contractors to do the jobs of the fired employees.

NAFTA

In the past 6 years 8 million Mexicans have fallen from middle class to poverty.

The average wage of Mexican workers lost 48.3% of its purchasing power.

In preparation for NAFTA Mexico repealed Article 27b of the constitution, which gave citizens rights to communal land ownership.

NAFTA

1.5 million workers work in the border sweatshops (fastest growing industry under NAFTA), where Mexican federal labor laws do not apply.

The result of the above example is savage exploitation, precarious jobs, and no recourse.

NAFTA

There are probably just as many negatives about NAFTA as there are positives, maybe, but as James said earlier, “There are two sides to every story”. I guess it depends on which side you stand on.

Our group would like to thank you for your time and hope you enjoyed this presentation. If you have any questions please keep them to your selves. No, no just kidding, please direct you questions to anyone is the group. Please put your hands together for the actors in this productions!