Abstract: The 2012 rankings of trade freedom around the world indicate that trade freedom in the world has remained constant or regressed slightly since 2011. The lack of improvement is regrettable because countries with the most trade freedom have the highest per capita gross… Read more
When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with her Mexican counterpart in Guanajuato, Mexico, on January 24, the high-level encounter will focus on topics of great importance to the U.S. and Mexico. Topping the agenda will be Mexico’s deadly narco-conflict. Last year was a somber one for Mexico, one in… Read more
Mexican President Felipe Calderón’s visit to Washington on May 19–20 highlights the complex nature of America’s critical relationship with its southern neighbor. President Obama will honor Calderón with a lavish state dinner, and the Mexican leader will address the U.S. Congress. The visit will set the tone for… Read more
WASHINGTON, JAN. 20, 2010--North America is the world leader in economic freedom, with two of its three countries listed among the 10 freest in the 2010 "Index of Economic Freedom," published annually by The Wall Street Journal and The… Read more
For the past nine months, the Obama Administration and Congress have allowed three free trade agreements (FTAs) negotiated by the Bush Administration -- Colombia, Panama, and South Korea -- to languish unapproved. This delay hurts American workers, as each of the agreements offers its own unique benefit to… Read more
This week, during her inaugural visit to Mexico, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton faces a tough but critical challenge: laying the early foundations for a solid, working relationship with America's southern neighbor. The secretary can be certain that during her foray into the cauldron of U.S.-Latin American relations, her every word, her every action,… Read more
When President Obama and the Democrat-controlled Congress used the Fiscal Year 2009 "omnibus" spending bill to deliver on a campaign promise to Big Labor and kill a pilot program that permitted a handful of trucks from Mexico access to U.S. highways, they set in motion a head-on collision with one of America's closest trading… Read more
One of the concerns raised by the 9/11 terrorist attacks was the security of U.S. borders. The failed congressional attempt at comprehensive immigration reform focused renewed attention on the U.S. border with Mexico as well as on the challenges of illegal border crossings and surges in cross-border crime. In response, the Bush Administration employed additional… Read more
Barack Obama's pledge to--if elected President--rewrite the rules of trade set out in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) caters to a protectionist agenda set on protecting special interests, not promoting America's prosperity. The argument that NAFTA has brought nothing but woe to the U.S. economy and America's workers… Read more
Felipe Calderón, who began his single sexenio (six-year term) as President of Mexico in December 2006, has made significant progress in the fight against narcotrafficking, but Mexicans are still waiting to see whether his government will successfully challenge the private- and public-sector monopolies and duopolies that dominate huge portions… Read more
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I appreciate this opportunity to speak to you today about one of the most important opportunities that America has faced in several decades. The North American Free Trade Agreement, which adds Mexico to the current free trade area with Canada, will create the largest free trade zone in the world, with a population of… Read more
If I am known for anything in Washington, D.C., it is for trying to put the federal government on a budget. But in terms of the overall well-being of the nation and its people, the deficit is a relatively mild matter compared to trade. Trade is an issue of overarching importance. Trade has been… Read more
This is the second time I've come here to The Heritage Foundation to talk about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The first time was back in December, and I was still Secretary of Commerce. I was also just off the campaign trail, where the rhetoric about the NAFTA had been fierce. As I… Read more
Since 1989, the United States has enacted numerous free trade agreements with countries around the world. These...… Read more
The Obama Administration recently made its strongest statement yet in support of free trade agreements. Secretary of...… Read more
The March 3 working meeting between Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon and U.S. President Barack Obama loomed as a...… Read more
When the Mexican government imposed punitive tariffs last year on $2.4 billion in American products the average Mexican...… Read more
Participants at a recent conference in Washington blamed Mexico’s failure to achieve above-average economic growth...… Read more
Today, President Obama is hosting a jobs summit at the White House with union bosses and corporate CEOs to discuss...… Read more
Three years ago the U.S. finished negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with Colombia that would have given...… Read more
If you support free markets, Mary Anastasia O'Grady's Wall Street Journal op-ed makes for frightening reading: The U.S....… Read more
Free trade has been receiving a bad rap lately. Barack Obama's campaign has come out in full force against free trade....… Read more
Barack Obama has frequently called the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) "a bad deal." During one Democratic...… Read more
Vice President, Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, and Director, The Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies