Voices

Barbara Ledesma Brown, president, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Orange County:

“There will be a demand for Spanish-speaking professionals, such as engineers, accountants, attorneys, administrators for manufacturing ventures, bankers and those in the building trade.”

Lucia de Garcia, president, Elan International Inc., Newport Beach:

“The maquiladoras will become obsolete because they are set up so that companies that manufacture their products across the border in Mexico do not have to pay tariffs when their goods cross the border.”

Harold W. Ezell, chairman, Ezell Group, Newport Beach, and former western regional commissioner of the INS:

“We should have in the free trade agreement some kind of immigration proviso that would have Mexico admit that illegal immigration is their problem and that they should help us in some way to be a line of defense for us. After all, the invasion is coming from the Mexican side.”

Steve Kishi, vice president, Carl Karcher Enterprises Inc., Anaheim:

“The removal of tariffs will lower operating costs for our licensees, which will enable them to expand rapidly. We consider Mexico to be the highest priority for the international expansion of Carl’s Jr.”

Alex Meruelo, president, La Pizza Loca, Buena Park:

“This gives us more confidence in investing in Mexico. Once we expand down there next year, a lot of our ingredients will come from our distribution centers in Los Angeles and Orange counties.”

Robert J. Miranda, president, R.J. Miranda & Co., Santa Ana:

“The Mexican middle class has a significant purchasing power and they strongly prefer U.S.-made products over other foreign or Mexican products because of perceived quality and durability of American goods.”

Todd B. Nicholson, president, Industrial League of Orange County, Irvine:

“The impact over a period of time is that the Mexican economy and standard of living will improve. When that occurs, it will be favorable to the United States, particularly to those of us in close proximity to Mexico.”

Safi U. Qureshey, president, AST Research Inc., Irvine:

“Despite the changes of laws in Mexico, there’s still 20% tariff on our products. The signing of the agreement would make our products more affordable and competitive in that market. Our products will be an engine for them to develop their industries faster.”

Luis Suarez-Villa, associate professor of social ecology, UC Irvine:

“Over the short term, I think not only for Southern California but for other parts of the United States, we will probably lose jobs in assembly type of manufacturing. It may benefit over the long term for Orange County because the sectors of the U.S. economy that are going to benefit from the pact are those in high-tech--very sophisticated technology that requires very high skills.”

Robert M. Yamafuji, president, KTGY Group Inc., Irvine:

“With the pact, we can use U.S.-made materials for the design and construction of Western-style homes, resorts and hotels. We’re interested in doing other work in that country, and this agreement would make it easier for us to bid for other projects.”