Full Version: Western Hemisphere Free Trade Zone
A dramatic way to introduce what may seem a dry topic:
Link
There are many controversies going on here. Here is one of them.
To be debated:
Is a free trade zone throughout the Western Hemisphere a good idea or a bad one?
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QUOTE
Protesters set one building on fire Friday and threw objects at police in the streets of this resort city as the leaders of 34 nations began the fourth Summit of the Americas.
There are many controversies going on here. Here is one of them.
QUOTE
Bush wants to create a free trade zone throughout the Americas, from Canada to Argentina. He has argued that all nations involved will benefit economically.
But leaders of several nations reject the notion, saying the United States would take advantage of smaller nations. Chavez is one of the most prominent critics.
"We bury the free trade agreement today here," Chavez said at the rally.
But leaders of several nations reject the notion, saying the United States would take advantage of smaller nations. Chavez is one of the most prominent critics.
"We bury the free trade agreement today here," Chavez said at the rally.
To be debated:
Is a free trade zone throughout the Western Hemisphere a good idea or a bad one?
Obviously I feel it is a good idea because in accordance to my own political philosophy..all free trade is good.
I think this Americas agreement is meaningless and the real determinations will be made at the WTO assembly in December. That doesn't stop Chavez from using it to his political advantage.
Many South America nations feel that without the United States agreement and preemptive offering of a great lessening of farm subsidies and tariffs that they will not concede to anything. The farm tariffs and subsidies of western nations will not be properly addressed and determined until the WTO meeting in Dec. The US will be very hesitant to offer any concessions with out the EU's support and right now in regards to furthering free and open trade the biggest opponents America faces are not in the Americas but rather in Europe.
PS did anyone notice the baseball caps the Chavez supporters were wearing? The black cap with a embroidered C? Is the C for Chavez? I am curious if anyone knows.
I think this Americas agreement is meaningless and the real determinations will be made at the WTO assembly in December. That doesn't stop Chavez from using it to his political advantage.
Many South America nations feel that without the United States agreement and preemptive offering of a great lessening of farm subsidies and tariffs that they will not concede to anything. The farm tariffs and subsidies of western nations will not be properly addressed and determined until the WTO meeting in Dec. The US will be very hesitant to offer any concessions with out the EU's support and right now in regards to furthering free and open trade the biggest opponents America faces are not in the Americas but rather in Europe.
PS did anyone notice the baseball caps the Chavez supporters were wearing? The black cap with a embroidered C? Is the C for Chavez? I am curious if anyone knows.
QUOTE
But leaders of several nations reject the notion, saying the United States would take advantage of smaller nations. Chavez is one of the most prominent critics.
Chavez rejects the idea because he knows from history that autocracies that engage in free trade eventually democratize. That is what happened to the UK, Hong Kong, Sigapore, etc.
Chavez rejects the idea because he knows from history that autocracies that engage in free trade eventually democratize. That is what happened to the UK, Hong Kong, Sigapore, etc.
Venezuela is a federal republic (as are we).
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbo...os/ve.html#Govt
Chaves is a democratically elected leader, who has withstood numerous inter-term special elections, and who is a very popular ruler. He is widely demonized by the US however, because hh has often injured our oil interests. He is part of the reason oil has gotten so expensive.
Is a free trade zone throughout the Western Hemisphere a good idea or a bad one?
That would mean what? Goods would travel through the Western Hemisphere with more ease?
Well, that would cause more outsourcing, but lets face it, as soon as we got our economy to run almost soley on the exportation of dollars, we sacrificed the need to have an industrial economy anyway. On the otherhand, it would probably hurt countries like Mexico, whose export economys might be hurt, by increased competition from other even poorer third world countrys.
Venezuela is a federal republic (as are we).
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbo...os/ve.html#Govt
Chaves is a democratically elected leader, who has withstood numerous inter-term special elections, and who is a very popular ruler. He is widely demonized by the US however, because hh has often injured our oil interests. He is part of the reason oil has gotten so expensive.
Is a free trade zone throughout the Western Hemisphere a good idea or a bad one?
That would mean what? Goods would travel through the Western Hemisphere with more ease?
Well, that would cause more outsourcing, but lets face it, as soon as we got our economy to run almost soley on the exportation of dollars, we sacrificed the need to have an industrial economy anyway. On the otherhand, it would probably hurt countries like Mexico, whose export economys might be hurt, by increased competition from other even poorer third world countrys.
QUOTE(Victoria Silverwolf @ Nov 5 2005, 12:20 AM)
Is a free trade zone throughout the Western Hemisphere a good idea or a bad one?
The wealthiest nations of the western hemisphere have allowed too much power to accrue to common laborers, and tree-hugging environmentalists. Citizens of poorer nations are at an advantage by not having implemented such costly measures. It has become nearly impossible to hire servants in the U.S. or Canada without either paying them exorbitant wages or hiring illegals. To manufacture or build anything in these countries requires enormous outlays of money to mitigate environmental impacts.
By creating a free trade zone, it will make it easier to alleviate the high costs created by the opulent living standards of workers in the U.S. and Canada. It will encourage countries that currently have overly protective enviromental and labor standards to compete for the benefits of a corporate presence within their borders.
Is a free trade zone throughout the Western Hemisphere a good idea or a bad one?
I think it's fantastic idea. Our current administration's bizarre tariff policies make me wonder if this is actually possible, however. The U.S. would naturally be the 800-pound gorilla without an economy like Germany's for counter-balance. Regardless, a free trade zone among non-U.S. countries should benefit everyone enormously. Canada and Chile already have a free-trade agreement, and an argument could be made that it has benefitted both countries.
And for those protectionists who would like another round of steel tariffs, there's still the EU and Asia to think of.
Myself, I would love to see cheap raw sugar from tropical nations re-replace high-fructose corn syrup, which is linked to many dietary and health problems.
I think it's fantastic idea. Our current administration's bizarre tariff policies make me wonder if this is actually possible, however. The U.S. would naturally be the 800-pound gorilla without an economy like Germany's for counter-balance. Regardless, a free trade zone among non-U.S. countries should benefit everyone enormously. Canada and Chile already have a free-trade agreement, and an argument could be made that it has benefitted both countries.
And for those protectionists who would like another round of steel tariffs, there's still the EU and Asia to think of.
Myself, I would love to see cheap raw sugar from tropical nations re-replace high-fructose corn syrup, which is linked to many dietary and health problems.
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