MEXICO: Mexicans protest against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ahead of North American summit in Guadalajara

Record ID: 304061

  • Title: MEXICO: Mexicans protest against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) ahead of North American summit in Guadalajara
  • Date: 10th August 2009
  • Summary: GUADALAJARA, MEXICO (AUGUST 9, 2009) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS MARCHING AND CARRYING CUBAN FLAG PROTESTER CARRYING POSTER DEMANDING MORE MARKET REGULATION IN LIEU OF ECONOMIC CRISIS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CARLOS MAYA, ANTI-NAFTA PROTESTER, SAYING: "The march is to protest human rights violations by (Mexican President) Felipe Calderon, and by the United States government for their actions against migrant workers' rights and for their mistreatment of Mexican truck drivers who have a right to work in the U.S., and we're protesting against the free trade agreement. We also demand an analysis of the new Free Trade Agreement so there can be justice for the Mexican producers of corn and beans." PROTESTERS CHANTING AND HOLDING FISTS IN AIR POLICE STANDING GUARD VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING PROTESTER CARRYING ANTI-IRAQ WAR POSTER POLICE STANDING GUARD PROTESTERS MARCHING TOWARD GUADALAJARA CATHEDRAL PROTESTERS DRESSED AS GUANTANAMO PRISONERS POSTER AGAINST SEAL HUNTING IN CANADA PROTESTER MARCHING AGAINST SEAL HUNTING PROTESTERS MARCHING
  • Embargoed: 25th August 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: International Relations,Economic News
  • Reuters ID: LVADMAHRIUVRZ0LWQVDUY6UV1AOI
  • Story Text: Mexican protesters march against North American Free Trade Agreement as leaders of U.S., Mexico and Canada prepare for summit.
    Anti-NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) protesters marched on Sunday (August 9) in Guadalajara, Mexico where the heads of state of the United States, Mexico and Canada will meet to discuss simmering trade issues and security concerns, in the light of increasing drug gang violence.
    About 200 protesters carrying a Cuban flag and posters marched to Guadalajara cathedral.
    Social activist Carlos Maya said the demonstrators were concerned about the rights of Mexicans under NAFTA which they believe favors the larger economies of Canada and the U.S.
    "The march is to protest human rights violations by (Mexican President) Felipe Calderon, and by the United States government for their actions against migrant workers' rights and for their mistreatment of Mexican truck drivers who have a right to work in the U.S., and we're protesting against the free trade agreement. We also demand an analysis of the new Free Trade Agreement so there can be justice for the Mexican producers of corn and beans," he said.
    Others carried posters against the U.S. involvement in the war in Iraq and against Canadian seal hunting.
    U.S. President Barack Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon will have dinner in Guadalajara Sunday night followed by three-way talks on Monday.
    Obama is expected to get some heat from Calderon to resolve a cross-border trucking dispute.
    Under the North American Free Trade Agreement, Mexican trucks are supposed to be allowed to cross into the United States, but American trucking companies charge Mexican trucks are not safe. The issue has festered for years.
    Mexico imposed retaliatory tariffs of $2.4 billion in U.S. goods in March after Obama signed a bill canceling a program allowing Mexican trucks to operate beyond the U.S. border zone.
    U.S. business groups have been pressing the White House to resolve the dispute, saying the ban threatens to eliminate thousands of U.S. jobs.
    A top White House official recently told reporters the Obama administration is "quite focused" on the issue and was working with the U.S. Congress to resolve safety issues.
    Obama told reporters that, in light of the three countries' weakened economies, he is not willing to unilaterally reopen the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) treaty as he had talked about on the campaign trail last year.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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