Mexico: You Can Import Any US Car You Like as Long as It's a '98
I had to check the calendar to see if it was April first, but no; Mexico has banned the importation of all American used cars except for vehicles built in 1998. No really. As of today, our NAFTA neighbor to the South has forbidden importation of all American pre-loved cars, trucks, pickup trucks, minivans and SUVs built before '98, and all those built thereafter. Until now, there was a five year window, from '93 to '98. As The Detroit News reports, authorities responsible make no bones about the fact that the rule change was spurred by declining car dealers' profits rather than consumer interest. "The Mexican Consulate in McAllen said the change was made 'to restrict the entry of vehicles that compete with the Mexican car industry.'" Needless to say, the rule change has inflated the price of '98's and eaten into the price of anything older– or younger. "With the sudden change in demand, such 1998 models are appreciating for the first time since they rolled off the lot, their prices rising by $500 to $800." Locura.
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I don't know much about NAFTA, but this sure smacks of something that should not be allowed.
What happened to NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement. This sounds like a trade restriction to me. Of course, since I doubt that US car makers have a problem with this restriction of trade-and may even support it-I also doubt that anything will be done by our government in response (other than opening our borders even wider to Mexico).
lol @ first comment --that was my first thought exactly. If I was in Mexico I sure as hell would like to be in a Miata.
NAFTA, like most US trade agreements, appears to be a mostly one-way street. China has 50% duties on imported automobiles, yet the US buys almost anything China ships here and has minimal import duties. Free trade. BS.