MINING IN MEXICO — U.S. Congress debates NAFTA

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) faces a rocky ride from the U.S. Congress as decision time nears.

The tri-lateral trade pact among Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, scheduled to come into force Jan. 1, 1994, has already been ratified by Ottawa. Heading the “yes” side is U.S. President Bill Clinton. Among those American politicians opposing the agreement is Richard Gephardt, majority leader in the House of Representatives.

While U.S. Senate approval is expected, House support is not a certainty. Gephardt’s opposition is reported to focus on labor concerns — in particular, the right of workers to organize, a possible increase in illegal immigration and financing for worker retraining. Concern over the environment is another major opposition issue.

Implementation of NAFTA could be a stepping-stone to an even larger trading agreement involving countries in North, Central and South America.