1. Panel 1: Industrial Investment, Labor and the Environment
Moderator, Cyrus Reed
Texas Center for Policy Studies
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Toward Sustainable Trade in the Americas? Lessons from Mexico

2. Toward Sustainable Trade in the Americas? Lessons from Mexico
Panelists
Miguel Angel Torres, PECE, Aguascalientes
Maquiladora and Export-Led Development in Aguascalientes
Maria Atilano, RMALC
The Autotrim (Matamoros/Valle Hermoso) Labor Rights Campaign
Marisa Jacott, Fronteras Comunes
Foreign Investment and Hazardous Waste Management in State of Tabasco
Fernando Bejarano, RAPAM
The Metalclad Toxic Waste Site and NAFTA’s Chapter 11 Investment Provision
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Toward Sustainable Trade in the Americas? Lessons from Mexico

3. Location of Free Trade Case Studies
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Toward Sustainable Trade in the Americas? Lessons from Mexico

4. Toward Sustainable Trade in the Americas? Lessons from Mexico
Fact: Maquiladoras Plants, Employment and Values Have Increased, Particularly in Interior
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Toward Sustainable Trade in the Americas? Lessons from Mexico

5. Toward Sustainable Trade in the Americas? Lessons from Mexico
Fact: Authorized Hazardous Waste Management Facilities Have Increased since NAFTA
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Toward Sustainable Trade in the Americas? Lessons from Mexico

6. Toward Sustainable Trade in the Americas? Lessons from Mexico
Topics of Discussion
Role of Foreign Investment in Development:
Has it led to technology transfer, cleaner technology, safer working conditions?
Any evidence of pollution havens, race-to-the bottom, of investment to take advantage of less environmental protection? What of workers – worker exploitation or rising wages? Impact of U.S. recession?
What impact on environmental protection, regulation, labor rights?
Are there mechanisms to mitigate impacts of growth?
Role of Government, NAFTA Institutions and Citizens:
Impacts of NAFTA Chapter 11?
Have citizens, labor been able to take advantage of protection provisions in NAFTA and NAFTA side agreements.
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Toward Sustainable Trade in the Americas? Lessons from Mexico

7. Final Thoughts & Recommendations
What do these case studies suggest about investor protection clauses of NAFTA, adequacy of Side Agreements to assure labor rights and environmental protection?
What do they say about export-led development at the local level and performance of multinational corporations in general?
6/4/2019
Toward Sustainable Trade in the Americas? Lessons from Mexico