Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya

[Hawkmoon]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mexico-says-ready-quit-talks-us-necessary-174502231.html

Mexico threatens to drop out of the NAFTA if the Trump administration mentions either the wall, or the billions of dollars [illegal -- mostly] Mexicans siphon out of the U.S. economy and send home to Mexico every year.

I'm trying to figure out just what it is that we Americans get out of the NAFTA that helps us more than it helps Mexico. I can't think of anything at all. I just can't see a downside to Mexico dropping out of NAFTA. It's not like Mexicans buy much of anything that's made or grown in the U.S.

[Scout26]

Soooooo Mexico has taken themselves hostage in their negotiations with Trump? 

We are 80% of their export market and immigrants send back$25 billion a year.

I wonder who sanctions would hurt worse, us or them ?

[makattak]

[DittoHead]

It's not like Mexicans buy much of anything that's made or grown in the U.S.

America's exports to Mexico in 2015 amounted to $236.4 billion or 15.7% of its overall exports.
  1. Machinery: $42.1 billion
  2. Electronic equipment: $41.1 billion
  3. Vehicles: $22.4 billion
  4. Oil: $18.6 billion
  5. Plastics: $16.5 billion
  6. Medical, technical equipment: $6.7 billion
  7. Iron or steel products: $5.2 billion
  8. Organic chemicals: $4.8 billion
  9. Aircraft, spacecraft: $4.3 billion
10. Iron and steel: $4.1 billion

Not sure if it still holds true but in recent years Mexico was also the largest export market for American wheat, corn, pork & poultry.
You can argue that NAFTA hurts America overall (I don't feel qualified to argue either way) but there are definitely Americans who benefit from it.

[Chester32141]

America's exports to Mexico in 2015 amounted to $236.4 billion or 15.7% of its overall exports.
  1. Machinery: $42.1 billion
  2. Electronic equipment: $41.1 billion
  3. Vehicles: $22.4 billion
  4. Oil: $18.6 billion
  5. Plastics: $16.5 billion
  6. Medical, technical equipment: $6.7 billion
  7. Iron or steel products: $5.2 billion
  8. Organic chemicals: $4.8 billion
  9. Aircraft, spacecraft: $4.3 billion
10. Iron and steel: $4.1 billion

Any idea if Mexico paid for all that or did the American taxpayer .. 

[DittoHead]

Any idea if Mexico paid for all that or did the American taxpayer .. 

I'm not sure what you mean. Is there a reason that these exports to Mexico would be any different than the other top countries we export to?  ($280 billion to Canada or $116 billion to China)

[MechAg94]

The links I am seeing show Mexico as a net oil importer to the US.  Got a link for those numbers Dittohead?  Just curious to see the details.

I still think Mexico would feel the hits more than we would.  I guess it also depends on how much we put a lid on illegal immigration and the money transfers sent to Mexico.

For some reason, I am imagining every other country in South and Central America not being sad that Mexico might leave NAFTA.  

[DittoHead]

The links I am seeing show Mexico as a net oil importer to the US.  Got a link for those numbers Dittohead?  Just curious to see the details.

I still think Mexico would feel the hits more than we would.  I guess it also depends on how much we put a lid on illegal immigration and the money transfers sent to Mexico.

For some reason, I am imagining every other country in South and Central America not being sad that Mexico might leave NAFTA.  

The list with categories came from here but they just pulled data from here. I double checked the $236.4 billion total here https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c2010.html which also has historical data

[Ron]

Talk of a global economy and so called "free trade" is merely oligarch subterfuge for exploiting labor differentials throughout the world.

"We" may gain access to cheaper products but if there aren't high quality jobs for millions of people to buy those products what have we gained?

I've come around to a more internationalist view of trade based upon national interests. A philosophy of free trade based upon national self interest vs the global interests who will sacrifice what's best for the USA in order to increase multinational corporate profits.

[Hawkmoon]

America's exports to Mexico in 2015 amounted to $236.4 billion or 15.7% of its overall exports.
  1. Machinery: $42.1 billion
  2. Electronic equipment: $41.1 billion
  3. Vehicles: $22.4 billion
  4. Oil: $18.6 billion
  5. Plastics: $16.5 billion
  6. Medical, technical equipment: $6.7 billion
  7. Iron or steel products: $5.2 billion
  8. Organic chemicals: $4.8 billion
  9. Aircraft, spacecraft: $4.3 billion
10. Iron and steel: $4.1 billion

Not sure if it still holds true but in recent years Mexico was also the largest export market for American wheat, corn, pork & poultry.
You can argue that NAFTA hurts America overall (I don't feel qualified to argue either way) but there are definitely Americans who benefit from it.

So you're saying we didn't sell any of that stuff to Mexico before NAFTA?

[cordex]

So you're saying we didn't sell any of that stuff to Mexico before NAFTA?

Right. Just like after Brexit there can be no trade between Britain and Europe.

[French G.]

We will see. My job is currently working on a several million dollar order that is going to Mexico. Went through one hell of a slump two years ago due to world currency strength. Hopefully whatever the Pres does will not impact trade that is working. South America is a huge market for us and they have sat out a few years of capital investment, hope that comes back too.

[DittoHead]

So you're saying we didn't sell any of that stuff to Mexico before NAFTA?

No, I definitely didn't say that. Just trying to correct what appeared to a misconception on your part:

It's not like Mexicans buy much of anything that's made or grown in the U.S.

They do in fact buy a bunch of stuff that's made or grown in the U.S.

[Doggy Daddy]

America's exports to Mexico in 2015 amounted to $236.4 billion or 15.7% of its overall exports.
  1. Machinery: $42.1 billion
  2. Electronic equipment: $41.1 billion
  3. Vehicles: $22.4 billion
  4. Oil: $18.6 billion
  5. Plastics: $16.5 billion
  6. Medical, technical equipment: $6.7 billion
  7. Iron or steel products: $5.2 billion
  8. Organic chemicals: $4.8 billion
  9. Aircraft, spacecraft: $4.3 billion
10. Iron and steel: $4.1 billion

Not sure if it still holds true but in recent years Mexico was also the largest export market for American wheat, corn, pork & poultry.
You can argue that NAFTA hurts America overall (I don't feel qualified to argue either way) but there are definitely Americans who benefit from it.

I do not know the answer to this, I'm just throwing it out there;  What percentage of that total export to Mexico do you suppose is for the purpose of supporting or relocating American companys to Mexico?  i.e. supplies for out of country companies, building material to build facilities for companies that are moving, etc.

[Scout26]

Damn you.  That was what I looking for for my post.  I couldn't find it...

 

[Scout26]

Any idea if Mexico paid for all that or did the American taxpayer .. 

I'm not sure what you mean. Is there a reason that these exports to Mexico would be any different than the other top countries we export to?  ($280 billion to Canada or $116 billion to China)

What he probably means is EX-IM Bank "loans", and or other US transfer payments/Foreign Aid to Mexico so that they can then buy American products.

Reports say we gave $320 million in Foreign Aid a year to Mexico (that number has been as high as $560 million, along with $8.5 BILLION to Pemex in loans through the Ex-Im Bank.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/26/us-aid-320-million-mexico-wall-trump-specialists-backfire/97103024/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/dec/28/export-import-bank-mexico-pemex-oil-company-loans

I'm sure there is more that we give, but last I checked Mexico is providing us with any foreign aid or loans...