Mexican Trade Policy

CONTENTS

MEXICAN TRADE POLICY: TRADING AWAY THE FUTURE?
~ by Talli Nauman

Once the classic example of a state-run, inward looking, and shielded economy, in the last 20 years Mexico has undergone a dramatic transformation. Today, it is one of the world's most open trading nations, with trade accords signed (or pending) with more than 30 countries. Mexico is the second largest U.S. trading partner and, according to WTO figures, ranks number one among Latin American exporters and number eight globally. Mexico's total trade reached US$240 billion in 1998 and is expected to have surpassed $273 billion in 1999. Some observers worry, however, that Mexican leaders have taken things too far and have failed to establish mechanisms capable of mitigating the environmental impacts of increased trade. With exports booming and the NAFTA debate fading into history, will Mexico turn its back on environmentally conscious trade policies?

MEXICO AND THE U.S. CUT RIO GRANDE DEAL, BUT TENSIONS RUN HIGH AS BORDER WATER RUNS LOW
~ by Jonathan Treat

The thirst for water is growing throughout much of Mexico and the southwestern United States. As demand increases and supplies diminish, governments, farmers, urban planners, and developers are scrambling for ways to access and manage this precious natural resource. As a result, on both sides of the border the water found in rivers and aquifers is becoming not just a resource, but a commodity. And deciding who has access to that commodity is a source of mounting tension between state and federal governments.

BIOS ACTION KIT

Mexican Trade Policy: directory of topic-related contacts, Internet resources, and publications.

BORDER BRIEFS

News related to the border and U.S.-Mexico crossborder affairs, announcements of upcoming events, information regarding recent border publications, and more.

borderlines is a monthly publication produced by the Interhemispheric Resource Center, a private nonprofit research and policy institute located in Silver City and Albuquerque, New Mexico. The institutional subscription rate for borderlines is $20/year in the U.S. and Mexico, and $25/year to other countries.  Individual subscriptions are $12/year in the U.S. and Mexico, and $17/year to other countries. An email subscription is available for free, but graphics will not be included. To order by Visa or MasterCard, please call the IRC at (505) 842- 8288 from 8-5 MST. Or send a check to The Interhemispheric Resource Center, Box 4506, Albuquerque, NM 87196.

BIOS Homepage   w   borderlines Homepage   w    IRC Homepage 

Please send comments, questions, information on new resources, or changes to borderlines@irc-online.org