Analyze the impact of NAFTA on Mexican corn farmers. Why did so many Mexican corn farmers lose their livelihoods as a consequence of NAFTA?(1 point) Responses Mexican farmers could not compete with government-subsidized U.S. corn. Mexican farmers could not compete with government-subsidized U.S. corn. NAFTA gave subsidies to Mexican corn farmers to increase production, which flooded the market. NAFTA gave subsidies to Mexican corn farmers to increase production, which flooded the market. Changes in consumer food preferences from corn toward wheat reduced demand. Changes in consumer food preferences from corn toward wheat reduced demand. Manufacturing jobs that processed the corn left Mexico for the U.S. due to lower wages, reducing the need for Mexican-grown corn.

Question

Analyze the impact of NAFTA on Mexican corn farmers. Why did so many Mexican corn farmers lose their livelihoods as a consequence of NAFTA?(1 point) Responses Mexican farmers could not compete with government-subsidized U.S. corn. Mexican farmers could not compete with government-subsidized U.S. corn. NAFTA gave subsidies to Mexican corn farmers to increase production, which flooded the market. NAFTA gave subsidies to Mexican corn farmers to increase production, which flooded the market. Changes in consumer food preferences from corn toward wheat reduced demand. Changes in consumer food preferences from corn toward wheat reduced demand. Manufacturing jobs that processed the corn left Mexico for the U.S. due to lower wages, reducing the need for Mexican-grown corn.

Answer 1

Some possible reasons why many Mexican corn farmers lost their livelihoods as a result of NAFTA include:

1. The inability to compete with government-subsidized U.S. corn: The United States heavily subsidizes its corn production, which allows American farmers to sell corn at lower prices than Mexican farmers. This makes it difficult for Mexican farmers to compete in the market, leading to reduced demand for their crops.

2. Subsidies to increase production flooded the market: NAFTA provided subsidies to Mexican corn farmers in order to increase their production. However, this led to an oversupply of corn in the market, driving down prices and making it even more difficult for Mexican farmers to sell their crops at profitable rates.

3. Changes in consumer food preferences: As consumer food preferences shifted from corn to wheat, the demand for Mexican corn decreased. Wheat became more popular for various reasons, such as being used as a staple in baked goods or as a substitute for corn in certain products. This reduced demand for Mexican-grown corn and further affected the livelihoods of corn farmers.

4. Manufacturing jobs moving to the U.S.: NAFTA also contributed to the relocation of manufacturing jobs from Mexico to the United States due to lower wages. This led to a decrease in the demand for Mexican-grown corn, as the corn was often used as a raw material in food processing industries that relocated to the U.S. This shift further impacted the Mexican corn farming sector and contributed to the loss of livelihoods for many farmers.