1. 21st Century American Foreign Policy
Dr. Bruce W. Jentleson

2. Unit 5 The Americas: Relations with Latin America and Canada
5A: Historical Background
5B: US and Cuba
5C: US, Mexico and Canada
5D: Contemporary Overview
Why is my #1 so small? Can you correct?

3. North America

4. 5C: US, Mexico and Canada I. “North America”, NAFTA
II. Relations with Mexico
III. Relations with Canada

5. I. “North America”, NAFTA
North America as a sub-region w/in Western Hemisphere
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
US debate on approval, 1993
Freer trade area, 444 million people, producing $17 trillion worth of goods and services
Job losses, environmental costs
Approved by Congress
House of Representatives: , Senate 61-38, bipartisan
Mexico and Canada each had their own pro-con debates

6. Impact? Increased trade: e.g., US exports to Mexico tripled
One study: wage gains in all three countries
Another study: major US job losses

7. II. US Relations with Mexico
History (5A): war, US intervention, other tensions, some cooperation
“The two countries share a 2000 mile border, and relations between the two have a direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans – whether the issue is trade and economic reform, homeland security, drug control, migration or the environment.”
US State Department website

8. Political controversies for close to 30 years
Immigration
More than 32 million U.S. residents are of Mexican origin; equals about 60% of all Latinos in US and 10% total US population: legal and illegal immigrants
Political controversies for close to 30 years
Local level abuses: Arizona sheriff “show me your papers”, racial profiling

9. DREAM Act: path to legal residency especially for youth and students
Obama policy in his first term: combination of stricter enforcement and more opportunity
DREAM Act: path to legal residency especially for youth and students
2012 Presidential election
Romney and other Republican candidates hard-line, bashing
Barack Obama wins over 70% Hispanic vote
Hispanics a growing part of the American electorate: 6% (2000) to 10% (2012)
Immigration reform bill currently in Congress
Passed Senate, bipartisan support
Blocked in House of Representatives (largely Republican opposition)

10. Drugs (more on overall “drug wars” in next lecture 5D)
By mid-2000s over 90% of cocaine coming into US transiting through Mexico
Drug cartels armed like paramilitaries
almost 50,000 people killed
Cross-border effects into US as well
Merida Initiative, joint program
Some success: arrests increased, some cartels broken up, tons seized
But still violence raged and extensive corruption
Guns coming from US

11. Counter-terrorism, border security Diplomatic issues
Allies
Day to day working together
Differences over Cuba
Opposition to the 2003 Iraq war

12. Mexican politics
President Enrique Peña Nieto, 2012 : six year term, one term only
Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI, Partido Revolucionario, Institucional)
PRI in power for over 70 years, until 2000 Party, National Action Party (PAN, Partido Acción Nacional)

13. III. Relations with Canada
5500 mile border, longest in world
#1 US trade partner
#1 energy supplier (all sources)
Over 300,000 people daily cross-border traffic
History here too: War of 1812, border treaties
Acid rain issue
Opposed 2003 Iraq war
Supported Gulf War and Afghanistan war

14. For most part very close and friendly relations
Canada member of NATO
NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command)
Bilateral free trade agreement before trilateral NAFTA
Counter-terrorism cooperation

15. Canadian foreign policy, a global leader on multilateralism
UN peacekeeping: e.g., General Romeo Dallaire warnings about the coming genocide in Rwanda
“Responsibility to Protect”
Originator of the G-20

16. Citations
Map of North America: Public Domain, US government.