Grassley Urges Awareness of U.S. Businesses' Experience in Mexico
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Committee on Finance, today urged key government officials speaking at an event on U.S.-Mexican investment to make clear to participants that investing in Mexico can be negative, given the experience of U.S. producers of high fructose corn syrup in Mexico.
Grassley’s letter went to Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans, Under Secretary ofCommerce Grant D. Aldonas, and Under Secretary of State Alan P. Larson. The text follows.
June 3, 2003
The Honorable Donald L. Evans
Secretary of Commerce
U.S. Department of Commerce
14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20230
Dear Secretary Evans:
I am writing with regard to the Partnership for Prosperity Entrepreneurial Workshop scheduled forJune 9-10 in San Francisco. It is my understanding that you will speak at this conference.As you know, one of the purposes of the workshop will be to provide information to U.S. businesseson how to invest in Mexico. Likewise, Mexican companies will receive information on investingin the United States.
I support the goals of the conference. I recognize that the United States and Mexico have thepotential to benefit from increased cross-border commerce. For this reason, I strongly backed thepassage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
I am acutely aware, however, that one group of U.S. investors is not satisfied with its experiencesin Mexico. U.S. producers of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) invested heavily both in the UnitedStates and Mexico based upon the promises of the NAFTA. These businesses recognized that theNAFTA, as properly implemented, would increase sales of their product in Mexico.
Yet Mexican officials have worked actively to block sales of HFCS within their country’s borders.Mexico now imposes a tax of up to 20 percent on soft drinks containing this ingredient. As a resultof the tax, sales of HFCS in Mexico have plummeted. U.S. exports of this product to Mexico arenow at almost zero levels, and the continued viability of HFCS production in Mexico – includingproduction by U.S. companies with facilities there – is now in question. Mexico’s tax harms notonly HFCS manufacturers, but also U.S. corn producers who supply corn for HFCS plants in bothcountries.
Mexico’s HFCS tax is discriminatory. It is clearly intended to benefit Mexico’s sugar producers atthe expense of the U.S. HFCS industry. Moreover, Mexico imposed this tax following rulings ofNAFTA and World Trade Organization panels that Mexico’s 1998 decision to impose antidumpingduties on U.S. produced HFCS violated Mexico’s trade obligations.
Mexico’s treatment of a major foreign investor, the HFCS industry, calls into question whetherMexican government officials are truly committed to attracting, and keeping, foreign investment intheir country. With this view in mind, I hope that you will make it clear to participants at thePartnership for Prosperity Entrepreneurial Workshop, as well as to Mexican officials who attend,that the experience of U.S. investors in Mexico is not always positive. The negative experiences ofthe U.S. HFCS industry exemplify the risks of investing in Mexico. U.S. businesses should be madeaware of both the benefits and the pitfalls of investing in that country. Likewise, Mexican officialsattending the conference should realize that U.S. government officials are not overlooking Mexico’streatment of current investors.
This letter is also being sent to Under Secretary of Commerce Grant D. Aldonas and Under Secretaryof State Alan P. Larson, both of whom are scheduled to speak at the San Francisco conference.Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Grassley
cc: Grant D. Aldonas
Under Secretary for International Trade
Alan P. Larson
Under Secretary of State
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