Mexico ready to quit NAFTA if US talks fail

[GtHawk]

What trade deficits are you referring to?   The traditional measure used basically fixates (I would say fetishizes) trade in tangible property - televisions, commodities, etc - but completely ignores services and investment capital flows.  For example, a lot of foreigners come to the US and pay a lot of money to attend US universities.   That is just as much a matter of international trade - trading educational services, exporting trained brains, if you will - but those billions don't make it into the traditional balance of trade measures.  In fact, the US runs a high trade surplus in education services. 

Focusing on the balance of trade in industrial goods is antediluvian and yet that is what Trump focuses on.  Get real and come into the 21st Century, and the trade deficit Trump whines about goes away.

As far as your point on education, a lot of illegal foreigners come to attend our universities on the taxpayers dime, and I believe there is a growing trend for Chinese and others to vacation in America just in time to drop a little citizen who then goes home until it's time for their university education at the much lower rate. Otherwise I'm with you. ^-^

[Suppressed]

I run a huge trade deficit with my local grocery store too, it's just so unfair.

Better renegotiate for higher prices.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I run a huge trade deficit with my local grocery store too, it's just so unfair.

So does Bill Gates most likely. He'll go broke because of it.

[CSM]

Maybe because we've consistently run about a $60 billion per year trade deficit with Mexico, to pick one major partner.

If the US is harmed by that relationship, shouldn't Mexico be rewarded in a manner that would make them better off than we are?