| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 603.1 | NAFTA - I don't know | TROOA::BROOKS | | Thu Aug 13 1992 14:51 | 15 |
| As far as I'm concerned and I know, there has been very little media
attention given to NAFTA. When the Canada-US agreement was being
talked about, it was front page news almost every day. Your questions
are valide but I'm sure very very few people know how this will affect
them.
My gut feel is BBAAAAAAADDDDDDDDD!!!!!!
Even if Bob Rae is against it, I am not comfortable with trying to
compete with the Mexican economy, especially with the US in between.
Hopefully, more details will surface before it is ratified by our
respective governments.
Doug
|
| 603.2 | | KAOFS::S_BROOK | | Thu Aug 13 1992 15:02 | 13 |
| The biggest fear is loss of jobs because of wage costs in Mexico.
Even with the US Canada free trade deal, due to lower wage costs in
the US, particularly for US based companies, there is the strong
perception of the loss of many jobs. This must also be a big factor
to the US, since wage costs in Mexico are so much lower, it could
easily be cheaper to open a Mexican subsidiary (if there isn;t already
one) and begin manufacturing there.
This deal could have some very serious implications, especially at the
moment with corporations so concerned about cost cutting.
Stuart
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| 603.3 | We got away with murder! | POLAR::RICHARDSON | Sick in a balanced sort of way | Thu Aug 13 1992 17:42 | 8 |
| What I find amazing is that there was no mention of the Grand Canal in
any of the negotiations! I am amazed that the Americans and Mexicans
would overlook such an important thing as the Grand Canal and the great
advantage it gives to Canada over its other trading partners!
Wonders never cease.
Glenn
|
| 603.4 | I learned more... | BAKBAY::FRITZ | | Fri Aug 14 1992 17:55 | 15 |
| I have learned more about this since my base note. There was a radio
talk show discussing this issue.
My concern is Bush turning it into a campaign issue. Another concern
is the fact that THOUSANDS of jobs have since been lost to Mexico due
to cheap wages. How can you compete when Mexicans make 2/3rds less!
Not to mention the environmental issues.
Will Canada now "take advantage of" going into Mexico to have their
goods manufactured? I hear that 70% of Canadians are against such
an agreement and pushing it to go before the voters.
rf
|
| 603.5 | What about people? | SALES::THILL | | Mon Aug 17 1992 14:53 | 11 |
| What about the "Free Trade" of people? Is this an EC-type situation
where Americans can live and work in Canada and vice versa? I haven't
heard anyone address these issues.
Another point about US-Mexico is that environental regulations are
almost nonexistent in Mexico, so American companies can not only get the
cheap labor in Mexico, they can also just dump their toxic waste into
the rivers (where peopel get their drinking water) without having to
pay for any expensive clean up procedures...
Tom
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| 603.6 | Same as Canada?US deal | TROOA::SOLEY | Money talks. Mine says "Buy me a Drink" | Tue Aug 18 1992 09:18 | 14 |
| Regarding the "Free Trade" of people, my understanding is that NAFTA
takes the same approach as the existing Canada/US agreement. Previous
to that deal the law required a Canadian traveling to the US to do
ANY business to have a work permit, in fact this was never fully enforced
(for example travelling to take a business related course or attend a
convention should have required a work permit but in practice didn't).
Now an employee of a Canadian company travelling to the US for the
business of his/her employer does not require a work permit, this means
you can attend meetings, make sales calls and so on without a permit.
There are limiting conditions, say that I'm a service technician for a
Canadian manufacturer, under free trade I can go to the US and perform
warranty service without a work permit but would need one to do time and
materials work.
|
| 603.7 | | JPLAIN::FRITZ | | Tue Aug 18 1992 13:09 | 6 |
| Will this effect Digital? I know that DEC has been involved with
purchasing goods from Mexico via another company to be sold with
DEC logos.
rf
|
| 603.8 | | DNEAST::ESTES_CRYS | shelter animals need a chance | Sat Aug 22 1992 12:49 | 10 |
| RE:-1
I know I have some major concerns around this. What I understand is DEC
is in the process of building a manufacturing plant down in Mexico. (At
this point, they may already have one.) I talked with a process
maintenance tech from ABO and he was saying they will be starting to work
with people down there. (This may not be true, and I hope it is not).
Does anyone else know anything about this??????
|
| 603.9 | | KAOFS::J_DESROSIERS | Lets procrastinate....tomorrow | Wed Aug 26 1992 10:43 | 21 |
| Free trade would be good for ALL of us if the Americans respected the
deal, as soon as they are undercut by Canadian industries, they impose
trade barriers, but they raise a stink when they have to play by OUR
rules.
Ex #1: Norsk Hydro makes magnesium in Qu�bec, the US has imposed some
50% duty on magnesuim because ours is cheaper, they claim Norsk does
not pay it's electricity at a fair rate which gives them an advantage
over their own companies.
Ex #2: Ontario beer MUST be sold in brewers retail outlets and a levy
of 10� is placed on every bottle (environment protection). When all
this is added up, american beer is almost as expensive as canadian
beer (but not as good) so they lose their competetive edge (lower
price) and they scream bloddy murder and threaten to impose duties on
canadian beer as a retaliatory measure.
The US never play fair, so Mexico watch out.
Jean
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