• NAFTA, CAFTA have destroyed life for workers not only in America, but Central America, too.
By Mark Anderson —
WASHINGTON, D.C.—In an exclusive interview with this AMERICAN FREE PRESS reporter, Representative Walter Jones (R-N.C.) contends that the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) has so impoverished the economies of that region that minors entering the United States illegally could be seen as refugees fleeing dire economic situations in their home countries.
This writer first tried to cover a July 22 event at the Rayburn House Building, featuring the ambassadors from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras—the very nations from which droves of detached youths are migrating north across Mexico into the U.S.
But upon entering the room where these nations’ diplomats had gathered, this reporter was informed that there was no press conference, even though the Capitol’s press monitors listed the gathering as an apparent news event.
It turned out that the three ambassadors used a standard House-committee meeting room for a lavish dinner with U.S. officials—a rather unsettling spectacle to see, given the severity of the border crisis.
After being turned back, a chance meeting across the hall brought this writer face to face with Congressman Jones at a social function. Receptive and conversant, Jones agreed to talk again in a quieter setting for a 35-minute one-on-one interview.
The next day in his office during a personal interview, Jones said he recognizes the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and CAFTA factors in the current border crisis.
Asked specifically about CAFTA’s effects, Jones replied: “I’d say that [CAFTA] definitely could be part of the problem. I’ll never forget Ross Perot when he was running for president. . . . [I]n a debate, he said ‘Listen to that giant sucking noise’ of [U.S.] jobs going south of the border. That has stayed with me for many years.”
In a distinct North Carolina accent, he added: “Many times, CAFTA comes to mind. We try to create these trade agreements, but is it really fair to the American worker and is it really fair for the workers in those [Central American] countries? Many times I would say it’s not fair to either.”
Jones is especially focused on defeating the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
He’s joining forces with like-minded Republicans and Democrats in a coalition to prevent President Barack Obama from getting fast-track trade-approval authority, which is deceptively named “trade promotion authority.” Obama needs Congress to grant him that power before he can move TPP and TTIP forward.
Denying Obama that power buys time for Congress to actually read these two globe-straddling trade treaties. That improves the odds of defeating both trade schemes, which have the full backing of most Bilderberg Group, Trilateral Commission, Atlantic Council and Brookings Institution members.
These and other plutocratic groups interlock with one another—in league with the big banks and subservient governments—to forge globalism’s chains.
Since this article first appeared in the hardcopy edition of AFP, the Congressional Progressive Caucus issued a special report called “Kids First: A Response to the Southern Border Humanitarian Crisis.”
The report, issued just before the August recess, found:
“[F]ree trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement (or NAFTA) and the Central America Free Trade Agreement (or CAFTA) have led to the displacement of workers and subsequent migration from these countries . . . . Multilateral development banks have funded projects with disregard to the local impact on community jobs and small farmers.”
As this article was updated, another issue of major concern is whether the kids and teens illegally entering the U.S. are being screened for communicable diseases—an issue Texas Governor Rick Perry raised when the House Homeland Security Committee visited the border city of McAllen, Texas in early July.
Perry has summoned up to 1,000 National Guardsman to the border in deep-south Texas. Moreover, Representative Peter King (R-N.Y.) stated on the House floor right before the August recess that many of the teens entering the U.S. are of gang-recruitment age; and while the incoming kids deserve compassion, that compassion also extends to American citizens who might become victims of increased gang crimes.
AFP Roving Editor Mark Anderson is a veteran reporter who covers the annual Bilderberg meetings and is chairman of AFP’s new America First Action Committee, designed to involve AFP readers in focusing intensely on Congress to enact key changes, including monetary reform and a pullback of the warfare state. He and his wife Angie often work together on news projects. Write to Mark at [email protected].
