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I should preface this post by stating the obvious. I am not a trade guy. But I do think its interesting how trade agreements like NAFTA have already been judged as either failures or successes before the full agreements have ever been implemented! Consider the example of trucking in NAFTA. Even though NAFTA "began" in 1994, Mexican trucks were supposed to be granted access to US highways in 2000, Bush finally made a move in that direction this spring, but given the latest Congressional action it doesn't look like its going to happen. Among the new requirements: Mexican drivers should be fluent in English. Interestingly, I believe that Mexican trucks were allowed to drive in the US in the 1970s, at least the linked article implies that was the case. In any event, the full implementation of NAFTA is scheduled to occur in 2009 (a 15 year implementation period) and trucking is not the only item way behind schedule.
Posted by Kevin Grier on May 21, 2007 at 09:37 AM in Current Affairs, Economics | Permalink
Comments
Kevin, the title of your post got me really excited because I thought you were about to explain something I have always been wondering for years. I was wrong, but enjoyed your post greatly nonetheless. Here is what I have been wondering: “almost all” eggs I bought from supermarkets are inseminated. I have bought both regular and cage-free ones; and they are all the same. Do the hens get artificially inseminated every day, or do they simply live a good life?
Posted by: Yan Li at May 21, 2007 10:31:02 AM
I wonder how many American truck drivers are "fluent" in English?
Posted by: shecky at May 21, 2007 10:56:38 AM
What is the point?
Posted by: josh at May 21, 2007 11:00:22 AM
@shecky
Most of them are salt-of-the-earth types. They're good people , just don't expect them to know a whole lot beyond truck maintainence and NASCAR.
For all that it matters, what is "English" in the US anymore, we have so many localized dialects floating around.
Posted by: Jon at May 21, 2007 11:02:07 AM
@shecky
Most of them are salt-of-the-earth types. They're good people , just don't expect them to know a whole lot beyond truck maintainence and NASCAR.
For all that it matters, what is "English" in the US anymore, we have so many localized dialects floating around.
Posted by: Jon at May 21, 2007 11:03:29 AM
The article Kevin links to actually says companies should make sure the drivers are 'proficient' in English, which a little different to 'fluent'.
Posted by: Jim Magilton at May 21, 2007 11:16:39 AM
On the absurdity of trucking related
politics, I have coauthored a paper
back in 2001. Most of that is still
relevant today. It is fun read!
http://cafri.usask.ca/estey/j_pdfs/condon2-2.pdf
Tapen
Posted by: Tapen Sinha at May 21, 2007 12:14:05 PM
The Mexican truckers are being held to a higher standard than the rest of the drivers in the US. In Virginia, for example, you make take the liscence test in Spanish.
Posted by: Shmully at May 21, 2007 5:34:31 PM
why are you not a trade guy?
Posted by: bahah at May 21, 2007 6:06:55 PM
Free trade has a few glitches when one of the trading partners is hopelessly corrupt. Mexican truck and safety inspections are likely to be about like Chinese food safety.
Posted by: rj at May 21, 2007 8:33:19 PM
The SheetWise Principle -
Playing in a free market is like playing chess where both players must commit to their next move simultaneously. Any strategy that's based upon receiving a meaningful reply rather than a defensive posture is doomed to fail.
First Corollary -
When both players take a defensive posture, the audience gets bored.
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