O/T NAFTA ?

[Rob B]

I have been trying to find out who actually started NAFTA in the States. Who was the Senator or USRep that backed the bill? I know NAFTA was started under Bush Sr. then signed into law by Clinton. I want to know the beginning.

[Joels]

i heard it was a part of Reaganomics!!!! so Ronald Reagan started it i guess

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

quote:

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Question of the day

Who gets credit for NAFTA? According to Tyler Cowen at Marginal Revolution, “it may well go down as the most lasting legacy from the Clinton administration.”.

 

Not so fast. A little background on NAFTA:

 

Gerald Ford started planning for free trade between Ottawa and Michigan in the seventies. Also in the seventies, an office for free trade was opened in our government and was charged with developing the plan. The US/Canada Free Trade Agreement was the result and was signed and implemented during the Reagan administration. There was much talk about expanding it and calling it the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement and adding Mexico and Great Britain. George Bush Sr. signed NAFTA however it was not sent to the Senate until Clinton took office. Clinton added an environmental and a wage rider to the agreement.

 

The majority of the folks that did the ground work for this agreement have come from Republican administrations. I find it very difficult to give credit to Clinton for anything except implementing a plan he was handed.

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This was taken from Thie Silent Running's Website

 

HTH

[Rob B]

James,

Thanks for some input on this. If anyone else has any input on this please let it be known.

 

After more debate or facts being made available, I will give reason for this question.

 

I there are a lot of very smart people on this forum. I know I will get more info on this subject.

 

Does anyone think that NAFTA has had an inpack on our occupation?

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

At first I was negatively impacted - lost my job at Cummins Engine Company due to plant relocation to San Louis Potosi(sp?). But, I can say that had I stayed there, I would certainly not posess the skills I have today. So if NAFTA casued that chain of events, I'm glad it was signed. It has helped me. Has it helped our economy? Well... 10 years is still a short period of time to gage something such as that. I don't think it can/should be measured in the number of jobs lost, it shoudl be measued in how it has contributed to the overall influx of cash into our economy.

 

I do think it's a good idea to have good trade relations/policies with the countries in the neighborhood. I am not trusting the government to protect my job. I place that responsibility solely on my own shoulders.

 

JM2C

[biss03]

james... you are a very intellegent person (and not just because i agree with you!! )