In the Calgary Herald, AS/COA President and CEO Susan Segal explains how, despite candidates' anti-NAFTA talk, the pact has proven a crucial investment and trade tool. "In a campaign about optimism and the promise of America, anti-NAFTA rhetoric simply doesn't fit," writes Segal.
The North American Free Trade Agreement as been battered lately with sharp criticisms and calls has been made to withdrawal from it. In an op-ed, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez argues that this would be a disaster, hurting the U.S. economy, its workers, and its communities.
Cristina Rodriguez, a law professor at New York University, analyzes state-level immigration legislation and cautions that lawmakers may reconsider reforms once costs of heightened enforcement set in. The challenge of integrating immigrants requires cooperation from all levels of the U.S. government.
Canadian and Mexican observers pay close attention to the hotly contested race for the White House, particularly as Democrats step up attacks on NAFTA.
During his first U.S. visit in office, Mexican President Felipe Calderón stopped in states with large Mexican populations. The leader urged investment in his country to boost job growth.
The Hispanic vote will play a progressively larger role in U.S. elections, says Deputy Director Susan Minushkin of the Pew Hispanic Center in an AS/COA Online interview. She also says Mexicans, who always take interest in U.S. elections, are “particularly intrigued” this year.
As U.S. voters hit the polls in 24 primaries on February 5, the Hispanic vote played a crucial role, particularly in delegate-heavy California. The Latino electorate helped make John McCain the Republican front runner. Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton has relied on a Hispanic support base, but some see rival Barack Obama making inroads.