Home
>
Political
>
Steel Tubing Tariffs Prove that NAFTA Still Needs Work

Steel Tubing Tariffs Prove that NAFTA Still Needs Work

The North American Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was implemented on January 1, 1994. An extension of the previous Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement of 1989, NAFTA is the second largest free trade area in the world. The agreement intends to limit restrictions on trade in many industries and phase out tariffs in a period of 14 years. While NAFTA has created greater trade in North America, there still are concerns on how well the trade agreement is accomplishing its goal of deregulation. These concerns gained some validity with the recent issuance of tariffs in the steel tubing market in Mexico.

After a careful investigation, Mexico's Economy of Ministry came to the conclusion that the United States was dumping their steel tubing products into their country. The term "dumping" is used to denote any product that is sold to another country for a lower price than in its home market. By many, dumping is believed to be unfair competition. With the 469% increase in U.S. steel tubing imports from 1999 and 2001(reported by Mexico's Economy of Ministry) it appears that there was some definite foul play occurring in the industry. Mexico's Economy of Ministry felt that tariffs were needed on U.S. steel tubing in order to stop the effects of dumping and to help the economy in Mexico.

On May 27, 2005 Mexico issued tariffs that will raise prices of U.S. tubing anywhere from 7 percent to 25 percent in hopes of leveling out the playing field in the steel industry. A statement made by the Ministry declared that "imports from the United States take place under conditions of price discrimination and harm national production of similar products." This event has proven that NAFTA has not cured all our problems with trade and is still struggling in deregulation. In result of trying to save jobs in the steel industry, both countries have brought us farther away from free trade. Dumping and tariffs are both activities that will keep the countries away from free trade.

The greatest controversy is that trade has not really become more fair at all with NAFTA but has even possibly become more unfair. For instance, it is being argued that while trying to stimulate and protect trade in North America, NAFTA is inhibiting trade with other countries such as China. Another problem is it looks as if growth is occurring only in the northern states of Mexico with little effect in the southern states. The trade agreement has been blamed for the increased concentration of wealth in the United States and Mexico in the last ten years. While Mexico's overall economy has picked up since NAFTA, it appears that the richer are getting richer while the poor are getting poorer. The workers in Mexico have experienced a 20% decrease in pay since the implementation of NAFTA. It seems that NAFTA is helping out corporations without helping the people.

As seen from the recent steel tubing example, NAFTA still has a lot of room for improvement. We need to be aware of the term "free trade" and know that this means that products cannot be dumped to other countries like steel tubing to Mexico. Because of this dumping, the country has to compensate with tariffs and this brings us even farther away from free trade. While the intention of NAFTA to stimulate the North American economy is a good cause, it has to be done in the right way. We cannot sacrifice the people's well being for the sake of the economy. Revisions to NAFTA need to be created to ensure that free trade will exist between the countries.

Kaitlin Carruth is a client account specialist with 10x marketing - More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. To learn more about 10x marketing, please visit 10x marketing

maid service near Lake Forest ..

In The News:

New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.

FDA approves first human trial for Paradromics' brain-computer interface that could restore speech for paralyzed patients through neural technology.

New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.

OpenTable now uses AI to track your dining habits and share insights with restaurants. Learn what data they collect and how to protect your privacy.

Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.

New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.

DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.

Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.

Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.

Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.

A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Steel Tubing Tariffs Prove that NAFTA Still Needs Work

Political