Free Trade Agreement

The article by Chelminsky is interesting and informative as long as one is willing to ignore what the article with either intention or accident overlooks.

The comments do not address a most obvious danger. Enhanced local (Mexican) productivity, stimulated by U.S. investment and know-how, means that the Mexican market will be impacted by local production with improved quality and increased availability. Local production will begin to serve local needs. This will not enhance trade between Mexico and the U.S. but will, in fact, eventually inhibit or terminate the need for U.S. goods. Why would the Mexican purchaser prefer merchandise from the U.S. when he/she will be able to purchase a like quality made in their own country, available from increasing local production and probably at a lesser price? This will reduce our sales to them, not increase our market.

There is a need for a tri-country pact that will be of value to all three nations. We must carefully craft an agreement that will address all the dangers: employment, ecology, market share, etc. We do not just blindly want to “set up a competitor.” We have done that before.

RICHARD STRAUSS, Rancho Santa Fe