The American Latin Community and NAFTA Approval

The process of integration between Mexico and the United States is accompanied by the appearance of new actors in the bilateral relationship. Among them are, notably, Americans of Mexican heritage (Mexican-Americans or Chicanos) who are part of an increasingly important ethnic minority in American society: the Latin or Hispanic community. Despite this, both in Mexico and in the United States the Latin community had been given little attention until very recent times. Negotiation for the adoption and signing of a free trade agreement in North America, at the beginning of this decade, modified the scant attention the United States Latin community received. This essay describes and analyzes the political behavior of the different sectors that formed the Latin community during the negotiation and approval of the NAFTA because it is considered to have valuable lessons both for the United States and for Mexico. In particular, the essay stresses the deepening of an identity that is increasingly solid among the Latin community, a fact that translates into a definition of clear priorities for that community and into the strengthening of the organizations that defend its interests. According to the author, knowing this identity better and understanding the positions that arise from it in the American Latin community’s relationship with Mexico should make it possible to tighten and strengthen relations of mutual respect and shared benefits.