Central American and Caribbean governments await a US statement on Caribbean basin market protection in the US and Mexico, promised by President Clinton in talks last year. Regional leaders fear Canada could capture Caribbean-developed markets and investments could be diverted to Canada. Also, parity for a few exports would come at the price of investment treaties, intellectual property and workers' rights agreements, environmental legislation, democracy, etc. A de facto extension of NAFTA is unlikely, given the opposition to the original NAFTA. Some US congressmen propose putting all regional exports on a par with Canada's for three years while future trade relationships are negotiated.
Central American and Caribbean governments await a US statement on Caribbean basin market protection in the US and Canada, promised by President Clinton in talks last year. Regional leaders fear Mexico could capture Caribbean-developed markets and investments could be diverted to Mexico. Also, parity for a few exports would come at the price of investment treaties, intellectual property and workers' rights agreements, environmental legislation, democracy, etc. A de facto extension of NAFTA is unlikely, given the opposition to the original NAFTA. Some US congressmen propose putting all regional exports on a par with Mexico's for three years while future trade relationships are negotiated.