NAFTA: Mexican energy privatization beyond voters . . .

[Oscar]

NAFTA puts Mexican energy privatization beyond the reach of voters

[ http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/common- ... ach-voters ]

Raul Burbano, Gordon Laxer, Anna Zalik December 7, 2017

A new round of talks to renegotiate NAFTA is being held in Montreal from January 23 through January 27. Canada and Mexico should discuss the energy proportionality rule in NAFTA's Chapter 6 that requires a member country to make available for export the same percentage of energy as it has in the past three years. It blocks a member country's sovereignty to determine its level of carbon fuel exports, the price at which it sells its oil to its own people, and hinders climate change action.

- - - SNIP - - -

Energy proportionality is bad for Mexico and Canada. It undermines the ability of both countries to take control over their production of greenhouse gases and their own energy sources. During current NAFTA talks, both countries should demand an end to the proportionality rule and create conditions for energy sovereignty.

NAFTA is supposed to aid trade among the three North American countries, not derail democracy. If Mexicans wish to elect López Obrador to reverse the denationalization of Mexico's energy sector, that should be their right.

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Raul Burbano is the Program Director for Common Frontiers Canada, Gordon Laxer is author of "After the Sands: Energy and Ecological Security for Canadians" and founding Director of Parkland Institute at the University of Alberta, and Anna Zalik is a Professor the Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University.