Can Trump Live Happily Ever NAFTA
American retailers are shivering. Mexican manufacturers are praying. In the meantime, lobbyists are laughing all the way to the bank. This comes in the wake of the now-famous Donald Trump quote calling NAFTA the "the worst trade deal ever". But, how can the people of North America get what they want from this situation?
Most of the people reading this article can see the economic benefits of NAFTA. Free trade between nations does bring material gain. But, a solid moral foundation should always govern those transactions. Can we-the-people provide this administration with such a foundation?
Dreams of a benevolent United States have a tendency to lead people to a place called Ciudad Juarez. I want you to imagine that you find yourself on the streets of this humble city. You have the clothes on your back and fifty dollars in your pocket. But, many of the factory workers in this city make only seven dollars a day. Suddenly, the money in your pocket is enough to get you killed.
As factory workers stand on the northern border of this city, the Reo Grand is right there in front of them. They must feel like they could throw a stone and hit an American who makes twenty times what they make in Ciudad Juarez. How do the lives of these workers effect the livelihoods of a typical American workers? What would those poor souls feel like if they could earn just five dollars per hour? Would they feel like crossing the boarder illegally?
The first step in any solution is always education. You the readers should start by finding out more about the products that you purchase. To that end, I am providing a short list of manufacturers who operate in Ciudad Juarez at the time of this articles publication. They are listed at the end of this message. The information was posted on the Boarderplex Alliance website. First, read over the list. Then it's time to educate the people around you. All you have to do is share this article on all of your social media platforms.
The next step is to take action. Below is a list of manufacturers who invest in Ciudad Juarez. The information is accurate as of the date that this article was published. Send each of them a link to this article and a letter expressing your concerns. Then find out which brands they sell under. You can use that information to make purchasing decisions.
Foxconn: This is a technology manufacturer with roots in Taiwan. Their website describes them as being part of the Hon Hai / Foxconn Technology Group. The company is not without its share of labor disputes in Ciudad Juarez. But, it can't hurt to research those disputes before taking sides. You could always set up a Google news alert to keep up with any of these companies.
Global Containers & Custom Packaging Inc: Earlier, I said that a factory worker could throw a stone from Ciudad Juarez to The United States and hit a guy that makes twenty times what he makes. Those two employees might actually work for the same company. That's because Global Containers & Custom Packaging is headquartered just across the river in El Paso.
Electrolux: I know that this company moved some of their operations from China to Ciudad Juarez. But, I couldn't find information on how much they pay their workers. The "Sustainability" section of their website says "Electrolux will earn the trust of everyone impacted by our operations, demonstrating our commitment to ethics and human rights through our words and actions". If enough people start asking questions, they will provide us with answers. Maybe they are ethical. I just don't know.
American Industries Inc: Now I'm just confused. The Borderplex Alliance website has this company listed as one of the "Current investors operating in Cd. Juárez". But, the home page of their website starts off saying "Since 1969, American Industries, Inc. has been proudly providing American-made products to the manufacturing, agriculture, transportation, aerospace, construction, food processing, local and state governments, all branches of our military services, medical, and energy markets". Once again, if enough people ask, they will have to answer.
