Thousands of Mexicans March to Scrap NAFTA, as Their Government Fights to Save It Daina Beth Solomon - Reuters
go to original August 17, 2017

Over 40 trade unions, farmers, environmental and human rights protesters took to the streets of Mexico City on Wednesday to demonstrate against North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations between the Mexican and US government. (Ruptly TV)

While Mexican government negotiators fought tooth and nail to save the North American Free Trade Agreement during talks in Washington, thousands of Mexican farmers and workers took to the streets on Wednesday demanding the deal be scrapped.

Carrying banners that read "No to the FTA," and decorated with images of the distinctive hairstyles of U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto, the protesters said the 1994 deal had devastated Mexican farms.

"We are against the treaty and the renegotiation because it has not benefited the country," said university union spokesman Carlos Galindo, reflecting views widely held in the early years of the trade pact.

In a sign of that mistrust, on Jan. 1 1994 the Zapatista guerrilla army launched an armed uprising opposing free trade to mark the first day of NAFTA.

The fervor has faded and most Mexicans, including leading leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador who will run for president next year, now broadly support a deal which has led to job growth, especially in the auto manufacturing sector.

A recent poll found most Mexicans wanted to save NAFTA.

Read the rest at Reuters

Related: At NAFTA Kickoff, U.S., Mexico and Canada Already Show Signs of Disagreement (NPR)

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