Wall Street Journal columnist Mary Anastasia O’Grady seeks to put the Nafta-bashing on the campaign trail during the Democratic presidential primary into perspective this week. O’Grady says not only will such rhetoric undermine U.S. efforts to assist in the modernization of Latin American economies, it tips the balance of power towards Big Labor when it comes to issues of free trade and globalization. Read the full op-ed.
Mexican officials have also expressed concern with a number of the Democratic candidates’ statements on Nafta, and many Mexicans argue the trade agreement has ushered in a new era of growth. In a related story, Sen. Barack Obama is facing trouble following a leaked memo that his campaign gave a “wink wink, nudge nudge” to Canadian officials in Chicago, noting that his strong anti-Nafta rhetoric was more “political positioning” than future policy.
