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- Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
- Path: sparky!uunet!gatech!ukma!mont!pencil.cs.missouri.edu!daemon
- From: harelb@math.cornell.edu (misc.activism.progressive co-moderator)
- Subject: TEXAS TRUCKERS CRITICIZE NAFTA
- Message-ID: <1992Aug21.234053.18872@mont.cs.missouri.edu>
- Followup-To: alt.activism.d
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- Organization: misc.activism.progressive on UseNet ; ACTIV-L@UMCVMB
- Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 23:40:53 GMT
- Approved: map@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
- Lines: 90
-
- "Rogers said U.S. trucking companies are at a disadvantage
- because Mexican carriers do not have to pay worker's nefits, nor
- compensation and unemployment bemust they meet
- the same safety requirements
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- Topic 147 TRADE.NEWS 8-20-92
- kmander Updates on GATT & NAFTA Negotiations 2:28 pm Aug 20, 1992
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- TRADE NEWS BULLETIN
- Thursday, August 20, 1992
- _________________________________________________________
- NAFTA News Summary
- _________________________________________________________
- TEXAS TRUCKERS CRITICIZE NAFTA
-
- The Texas trucking industry has joined the growing list of
- industry, environment, labor and health groups expressing
- concern about the North American Free Trade Agreement. "We,
- like most Texans, were cautiously optimistic that the free trade
- agreement was going to be a good deal," said Hampton Rogers,
- Vice President of Government Relations for the Texas Motor
- Transportation Association. "However, it appears that trucking
- issues haven't been addressed to the benefit of the American
- and Texas trucking industry."
-
- Rogers said U.S. trucking companies are at a disadvantage
- because Mexican carriers do not have to pay worker's
- compensation and unemployment benefits, nor must they meet
- the same safety requirements. A recent Teamsters' study found
- that U.S. truck drivers earn an average $140 a day in total
- compensation, compared to $7 a day for their Mexican
- counterparts.
-
- According to Houston transportation consultant Paul L.
- Broussard, Mexican trucking companies will be able to operate
- in Texas and other border states three years after NAFTA's
- ratification.
-
- Source: "NAFTA Leaves Texas Truckers Singing the Blues,"
- JOURNAL OF COMMERCE, August 18, 1992, p. 3B.
- _________________________________________________________
- Other Trade News
-
- 1. Israel and China initialled a trade agreement designed to
- expand commercial ties and reinforce diplomatic relations
- between the two countries. The agreement removes
- administrative obstacles and encourages entrepeneurial
- activity, according to sources. Israeli officials said the accord
- would enable Israel to "enter the Chinese market directly and
- smoothly, without barriers." Israel hopes the agreement will
- double exports to China, which currently stand at $30 million a
- year. Israeli companies have also been selling military
- equipment and knowledge to China, but no official figures are
- available on these sales. Chinese exports to Israel are expected
- to total only $4 million this year. Israel Radio said the deal
- would seek final approval in October.
-
- Source: Tony Walker, "Israel-China Trade Accord," FINANCIAL
- TIMES, August 20, 1992, p. 3A; "Israel, China Give Preliminary
- Approval to Trade Agreement," IPS, August 19, 1992.
-
- 2. After meeting with the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela,
- Venezuelan Economic Planning Minister Ricardo Hausmann
- declared that his country is eager to establish a free trade
- agreement with the U.S. Hausmann said he hopes progress in
- negotiations on investor status, double taxing and intellectual
- property rights will lay the groundwork "for an eventual
- discussion of a free trade agreement similar to the one recently
- negotiated between Mexico and the U.S., or the one being
- discussed between the U.S. and Chile." Hausmann added:
- "Venezuela is a country with a very deep vocation for trade
- with the U.S., much more than other countries in this
- hemisphere, which have stronger integration bonds with Europe
- or other regions."
-
- Source: "Venezuela Actively Seeking Free Trade Agreement
- with the United States," REUTER, August 19, 1992.
- _________________________________________________________
- _________________________________________________________
- Produced by:
- Kai Mander
- The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)
- 1313 Fifth Street SE, Suite #303
- Minneapolis, MN 55414-1546 USA
-
- Telephone:(612)379-5980 Fax:(612)379-5982
- E-Mail:kmander@igc.org
- _________________________________________________________
-
-