Transcript Mexico`s Foreign Policy

Mexico’s Foreign Policy
& Impacts on The United States
Annie D’Elia
Bryce Vanderberg
Adam Bodner
History
NAFTA
Drug Wars
Immigration
Solutions
History
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1934 Foreign Service was established
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During the Cold War Mexico pursued a liberal and progressive foreign policy
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1963 in response to the growing tension of the Cold War, the Mexican
government proposed that Latin America become a nuclear-weapons-free zone
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1981 Mexico hosted a chapter of the North-South dialogue between heads of
state in industrial and developing countries
NAFTA
NAFTA
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The United States is Mexico’s largest trade partner
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Mexico is the United State’s third largest trade partner
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North American Free Trade Agreement signed in 1994- created the world's largest free trade
area, which now links 450 million people producing $17 trillion worth of goods and services.
NAFTA-Problems
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Manufacturing industries (motor vehicles, textiles, computers and electronic
appliances) moved their production to Mexico because it was cheaper
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Mexican farmers could not compete with the subsidized American farmers and
1.3 million farm jobs were lost after the signing of NAFTA
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The U.S. exploits Maquiladora workers
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It is bad for the environment in Mexico
Drug Wars
Drug Wars- Background
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Colombia’s drug cartels were dismantled in the 1980’s
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Weak judicial and police institutions and proximity to the United States, the
world’s largest consumer economy contributed to the start of the drug trafficking
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2006 President Calderon with the help of the United States launched a massive
crackdown against drug trafficking
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The primary focus for Mexico is breaking up drug cartels within the country and
the goal of the United States is to stop the flow of drugs across the boarders.
Drug Wars
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The drug trade makes up 3-4% of Mexico’s $1.2 trillion annual GDP (around
$23-30 billion) and employs at least 500,000 people
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Mexico is a major supplier of heroin to the United States and the largest supplier
of methamphetamines and marijuana
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In 2003 77% of cocaine that was in the United States traveled through Mexico to
get there, now it is 90%
Drug Wars- U.S. Role
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The United States sends aid to Mexico to combat drug cartels through
the “Merida Initiative”
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The policy keeps changing especially as the United States moves
towards legalizing and decriminalizing marijuana
Illegal Immigration
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Approximately 150,000 unauthorized Mexican Nationals came into the US per
year in the latter half of the past decade.
Mexican born individuals make up approximately 60% of illegal immigrants in
the US (roughly 6.7 million people)
Massive population of illegal immigrants of one ethnic group causes a shock to
the societal makeup of an area, which leads to increased tensions between the
native populous and the immigrants which expands past just illegals into the
ethnic group as a whole.
Immigrants in the U.S.
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The average annual income for a Mexican born family in the United States was
$34,000 compared to $50,000 for native born
Mexican born individuals in the US face a poverty rate of 29%, compared to
15% for native born people.
Huge disparities in the quality of living among the two groups
How to Solve the Problem?
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To solve these issues that arise from immigration and the drug wars, it is
necessary for the United States to take a more proactive step toward building a
more economically prosperous Mexico.
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Investing heavily in building up the infrastructure of Mexico would go far in
achieving a more economically equal neighbor to the south.
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U.S. gives Mexico $499 million in aid each year as of 2009.
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Barely a fraction of the $44,975 million in foreign aid given out by the U.S. each
year.
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Compare that to Columbia ($895m), Ethiopia ($940m), Israel ($2,432m), and
South Africa ($571m). Pumping millions less into a country that is our neighbor.
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The problems that arise from NAFTA will not be as detrimental if Mexico catches
up with the United States by having a more structurally sound economy.
Bibliography
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http://www.sre.gob.mx/en/index.php/about-the-foreign-ministry/history
http://www.peashooter85.com/post/30504608081/colombian-police-stand-over-the-body-of-drug-lord
http://www.cfr.org/mexico/mexicos-drug-war/p13689
http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/north-american-free-trade-agreement-nafta
http://useconomy.about.com/od/tradepolicy/p/NAFTA_Problems.htm