August 31, 2018

Castro Releases Podcast Episode on Consequences of NAFTA Renegotiations, U.S.-Latin America Policy

Seventh Episode of “Diplomatic Cable” Features Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and Former Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. State Department Roberta Jacobson

WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released a Diplomatic Cable episode on consequences of NAFTA renegotiations with Mexico and Canada, and Latin America policy under the Trump Administration.

The episode is available on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play.

“So much of our current Latin America policy under the Trump Administration focuses on stopping individuals from coming across the border rather than focusing solely on ports of entry that stop illegal items such as opioids that are killing Americans,” said Rep. Castro. “Featuring former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and former Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. State Department Roberta Jacobson, this episode focuses on consequences of the NAFTA renegotiation with Mexico and Canada, as well as the Administration’s general policy towards the Western Hemisphere region including our hardening immigration and counter-narcotics policy and the recent changes in U.S.-Cuba postures, this year’s presidential elections in Mexico, the Merida Initiative, the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, and the worsening humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.”

“I suspect that if we were to try and leave NAFTA… we’d be in the courts for a little while. I suspect Congress may have something to say about whether the President can do that unilaterally,” said Ambassador Jacobson on the episode. “But worst of all, it would be seen by Mexico, especially after attempting the renegotiation for as long as we have, as another sign that the U.S. won’t keep its commitments.”

Future episodes of the Diplomatic Cable will include discussions with Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass, Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the United States Department of State Nick Burns, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, German Marshall Fund’s Laura Rosenberger and Jamie Fly, International Rescue Committee (IRC) CEO and President David Miliband, former State Department Cyber Coordinator Chris Painter, and many other experts, practitioners, Members of Congress and American citizens. Episodes will focus on repercussions of U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the consequences of a rising China, the crisis in American diplomacy and development, election security, prospects for Middle East peace and many other issues.

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