NAFTA and CAFTA may have been two of the most harmful (to American jobs) treaties we've ever signed.

I am tired of taking care of other countries, I am an American, therefore, I should worry about my neighbor here.

 

Exactly. I'm a Union member. Businesses don't take jobs away from here for any other reason than profit. Anyone that thinks otherwise is badly misinformed!

 

How is a tariff helping your neighbor?

 

 

I think a lot of this stems back to American culture. We feel like we are owed high paying jobs simply because we are Americans. I think the world is transitioning now and Americans are going to have to dig a little deeper to remain supreme.

 

High paying jobs will remain here, salaries won't decrease.

Exactly. I'm a Union member. Businesses don't take jobs away from here for any other reason than profit. Anyone that thinks otherwise is badly misinformed!

 

That's why businesses exist to make money and to make a profit, isn't it? I assume that's why you work, to make money, isn't it?

 

And many of those business owners have their life savings invested in their businesses. You get laid off, you find a new job. They don't make a profit and they lose every thing.

 

Is every product in your home made in the US? My guess is it is not. My guess is that if a foreign made product is less expensive but made well, that you buy it. And why shouldn't you. Same thought process of companies that shift jobs to foreign countries.

 

Many companies would be out of business (which means lots of people laid off) but for NAFTA. Their global competitors have access to labor in foreign countries and if we legally prevent US companies from having the same access, how long do you think the US companies will stay in business? Not long.

NAFTA and CAFTA may have been two of the most harmful (to American jobs) treaties we've ever signed.

 

What harm did they do (out of curiosity)?

What harm did they do (out of curiosity)?

NAFTA was the primary reason for jobs to start their exit from the United States. Companies started heading south of the border in order to profit from lower labor costs as a result of NAFTA.

NAFTA was the primary reason for jobs to start their exit from the United States. Companies started heading south of the border in order to profit from lower labor costs as a result of NAFTA.

 

Certainly you aren't implying a decline in total jobs in America, correct?

Certainly you aren't implying a decline in total jobs in America, correct?

Since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed in 1993, the rise in the U.S. trade deficit with Canada and Mexico through 2002 caused the displacement of production that supported 879,280 U.S. jobs. NAFTA is a free trade and investment agreement that provided investors with a unique set of guarantees designed to stimulate foreign direct investment in Mexico and Canada. It has facilitated the movement of factories from the United States to Canada and Mexico. Most of these jobs were high-wage positions in manufacturing industries.

 

http://www.epi.org/content.cfm?id=1561

Dad, for every article critical of NAFTA out there, I can post one pointing out the benefits. See:

 

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=2489

Since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed in 1993, the rise in the U.S. trade deficit with Canada and Mexico through 2002 caused the displacement of production that supported 879,280 U.S. jobs. NAFTA is a free trade and investment agreement that provided investors with a unique set of guarantees designed to stimulate foreign direct investment in Mexico and Canada. It has facilitated the movement of factories from the United States to Canada and Mexico. Most of these jobs were high-wage positions in manufacturing industries.

 

http://www.epi.org/content.cfm?id=1561

 

That only shows what happened to NAFTA-related jobs. Total jobs in the US economy have not decreased. Likewise, imports from Mexico provide lower costs and higher quality goods for American consumers. And furthermore, the costs of keeping jobs in the US (by inhibiting free trade) are huge (see Exhibit 11 of the 2002 Annual Report from the Dallas Federal Reserve

Dad, for every article critical of NAFTA out there, I can post one pointing out the benefits. See:

 

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=2489

CATO isn't exactly nonpartisan. They're libertarians.

CATO isn't exactly nonpartisan. They're libertarians.

 

But you can't argue the numbers that they are giving

 

the U.S. economy has added a net 18 million new jobs

as well as somewhere it said that unemployment is down since NAFTA

NAFTA was the primary reason for jobs to start their exit from the United States. Companies started heading south of the border in order to profit from lower labor costs as a result of NAFTA.

 

Not sure that's so. Program last night quoted that in the 15 years since NAFTA 3 million jobs have left. In the 15 years prior 2.6 million jobs left. They cited Department of Labor stats.

High paying jobs will remain here, salaries won't decrease.

 

But Americans will have to adopt the requisite education to stay on top.

CATO isn't exactly nonpartisan. They're libertarians.

 

Would you like me to post one of the many other articles one can find discussing the benefits of NAFTA?

 

Bottom line is with NAFTA, there have been winners and losers in the US and thus you will find a cornucopia of articles that either praise or attack NAFTA.