A Sign of Things to Come?

The New York Times published an interesting article today about NAFTA's unfilled promises in Mexico. The article points out that in many cases NAFTA has produced "exactly the opposite of what was promised," and provides the following examples:

• The dismantling of domestic industries as multinational companies choose to import from their own suppliers;
• The inability for local farmers to compete with food imports; and
  
• Emigration to the United States.

Given NAFTA's failure 15 years after its implementation, what can we expect from DR-CAFTA? Mauricio Funes, El Salvador's president-elect, has repeatedly stated that he does not support El Salvador's withdrawal from the free trade agreement. Yet, as the food crisis continues and more and more Salvadorans leave the country in search of employment, will Funes change his mind?

- Sara Skinner, US Grassroots Coordinator