Never liked Bill Clinton. He reminded me immediately of a used car salesman on a high end lot. He signed NAFTA as his first official act of any significance his first month in office. The love child bill from the leaders of the three participating countries. I’m a native El Pasoan who watched the maquila, or “twin plant” industry be born only to have the American twin die.
Nothing now had to come from the USA and nothing had to be at least partially assembled in the USA. Instant death of a huge number of American businesses that couldn’t afford to relocate and outright desertion by many that could.
Japan was the king of exports to the USA then and the source of foreign capital investment in the country. Today they still hold more debt than any other country I do believe. I stand ready to be corrected if I’m wrong.
The reaction in Texas? Guess? The agreement called for the permitting of trucks from the participating 3 to traverse to and through the same 3. Canadian trucks were everywhere and crossed into Mexico carrying all kinds of shit. Usually for the auto or electronics industries there. Plants owned by Americans. But Mexican trucks were not allowed at all. Then after a couple of years of that outright bullshit their trucks were allowed in but failed inspection. Every single time. This despite many of the trucks being fairly new and purchased to be used to haul freight for fees. Total lies but what could the Mexicans do? It took legal action to get what was theirs by agreement. But again it’s the little guy who took it in the ass. Tell me how many trucks you’ve seen on the highway here from Mexico?
Mexican labor costs started to rise as workers tired of sweatshop wages quickly. What to do?
China!!! They had billions of people with little to no education and without a pot to piss in. Plus the Chinese government dangled really cheap labor for many jobs. The wealthy loved it and cared not that numerous organizations and foreign intelligence services assured us that much of it was literally slave labor in prison camps. Millions held indefinitely or for long terms for dissing some corrupt local officials etc.
Then the rural Chinese became urbanized. Eventually exposed to the internet and foreign papers and becoming wiser as the labor pool started getting tighter. By then they were consumers and businesses moved there specifically to do business with the people. Who wouldn’t?
Bottom line is kill the wealthy and feed them to the hogs. Help keep feed prices down and make bacon more affordable. The consumers there are like consumers here. None of us can do much except publicize it and criticize it. Elect no more conservatives ever.