Here’s what Ford via NAFTA does for U.S. workers in the auto industry: Engines for the popular Ford F-150 Truck (selling like hotcakes again) and other vehicles are manufactured in Mexico using cheap, skilled labor. These engines are then shipped to their U.S. factories to be installed in the trucks using cheap UNskilled labor. Sweeeeet, eh?
It’s a great deal for Ford. they get their popular, hot selling, high profit margin vehicles manufactured as cheaply as possible— all while using cheap U.S. and Mexican labor. Is this savings passed on to U.S. consumers? Nope.
Thanks NAFTA! and thank you, Bill Clinton and Al Gore for strongly advocating for the passage of NAFTA. This was so important for Ford and U.S. manufacturers of consumer goods that congress insisted NAFTA be “reviewed” and passed on a fast track basis.
Who was against NAFTA? Congressman Bernie Sanders. Here’s his 1991 speech on the floor of the House, smacking it down. Note how even then, Bernie was talking about the pathetic condition of U.S. workers.