, Columnist
New Era of Free Trade Leaves Mexico More Isolated
Its economy was already uncomfortably reliant on the U.S. Now diversification is even less likely, and Asia will suffer.
Traffic from Mexico into California.
Photographer: John Moore/Getty Images
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The rejiggered North American Free Trade Agreement pulls the Mexican and U.S. economies closer together, and raises the drawbridge to reduce trade with Asia. For Mexicans who already felt too dependent on the U.S., this is a grim combination.
The reconfigured accord, announced last week, seems like another chapter in the global playbook of muscular regionalism. Globalization is morphing into a new kind of trans-border commerce.