Ethical Analysis for NAFTA - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theEthical Analysisfor NAFTA. Answer: Introduction Healthy eating is considered to be a situation in which individual balances their diet. That is, they have to consume a combination of various vitamins as well as proteins thus avoiding aspects that may arise because of unhealthy eating like obesity. Therefore, it is recommended that individuals across the globe should ensure that they are health conscious and put more consideration to what they consume. In addition, apart from food, daily activities also contribute a lot to the health of an individual. Therefore, in order to attain a healthy body, individuals are expected to excise on a daily basis to reduce the chances of attaining obesity. The primary objective of the paper, therefore, is to analyze the contribution of NAFTA in relation to aspects to do with obesity in Mexico. In addition, the paper will also highlight on various mechanism to be employed by the respective government in ensuring that its citizen leads a healthy life free from obesity and other health problems that come to a result of unhealthy eating amongst the people of Mexico. Since inception, obesity had been a problem related to poor individual choices but from our conclusion obesity comes from the industrialization of agriculture as well as the trade and investment rules in developing countries. Mexico as a developing country through the NAFTA agreement import corn from the United States because it is a staple food for its population. The United States in turn imports fresh fruits and vegetables from Mexico which is a win-win situation for the two countries. From the paper, we are going to discuss on the NAFTA passage, the theories and industrialization of agriculture. Industrialization of agriculture in the United States led to massive research in agriculture focusing on how to increase their productivity. This increased output of calories from increased output of corn, wheat, and livestock produce. With increased demand for agricultural production, policies were set to promote production and shield the farm income levels. With high production of corn in U.S, livestock farmers were invited to use corn as livestock feed instead of grass which accelerated meat production in the region. All the prices of agricultural produce and dairy products were lowered leading to the generation of products from corn like the high fructose syrup used in the processing of foods with high calories and very low nutritive value. With the overproduction of corn, the prices decreased in the U.S market forcing the government to look for a new market for its commodity. This forced the U.S to dump its commodities at a lower price than the cost of domestic production to oversee countries. This dumping has promoted hunger and depression in most rural communities overseas because only a few countries benefitted from these. Globalization of agriculture is also the main cause of obesity. Increased movement of agricultural commodities and know-how has forced a change of the diet of most individuals globally. This has changed the chronic hunger menace to obesity and other non-communicable diseases as a result of high intake of calories found at lower prices in the market. equal treatment to imports and exports from the three countries United States, Mexico, and Canada was as a result of North American Free Trade Agreement in1999 (Dobado and Marrero 2005). U.S and Mexico phased out the import of corn and soybeans which are the main ingredient in the diet of the Mexicans. The Mexican government also allowed feeding the cattle on corn not only grass. The Mexican diet shifted from the traditional food to processed foods which were cheaper but higher in sugar and calorie levels. The period immediately after the NAFTA negotiation in 1988, there was an increase in consumption of refined carbohydrates from soda intake. Therefore, based on this aspect, it is clear that the production of processed products across the country contributed to the balance of diet amongst the citizens. In this case, Mexicans were able to shift their diet from traditional food to processed food this forced producers to produce more food to meet the increasing demand of the processed food in the country. In addition, the rising demand for the processed food from the population forced the government to ensure that there are adequate resources as well as labor to ensure that there is a timely process of adequate food in the country. As a result, the government had to ensure that it increases it reduces taxes to the raw materials used in the production process. I n this case, the reduction of tax imposed on the raw materials used in producing raw materials in the country leads to reduced prices of the processed food thus increasing the number of consumers in that it will be affordable to many citizens in the country. Therefore, based on this aspect, the government must deduce means to ensure that it reduces the escalating rate of obesity amongst its citizens. The respective government is therefore expected to roll out a campaign reduce the prices of basic food as well as offer basic education to its citizens on the importance of balancing their diet. In addition, the support from the non-governmental organizations contributes a lot in enlightening the public in relation to the merits of balancing diet. The passage of the NAFTA is seen as the main reason for the increase in obesity in the Mexican population. NAFTA has benefited the United States by encouraging unlimited trade between U.S and Mexico; fruits and vegetable flow freely to the north in exchange for corn and livestock products. Corn export increased to 9 million metric tons annually since the NAFTA agreement was passed. Soybeans export has tripled since the agreement in 1993. Sugar and sweeteners sanctions were resolved in 2006 increased the importation of high fructose corn syrup to the Mexican market. The NAFTA agreement also imports on ready-to-eat foods like snacks from the United States in exchange for fresh fruits and vegetables. There is a high demand for snack foods in Mexico, and the main exporter is the United States. The Mexicans must be encouraged to consume more fruits as well as green vegetables to reduce the alarming obesity in Mexico. Livestock importation has also increased after the NAFTA agreement; ther e has been increasing export of chicken, beef, and pork to Mexico from the United States. There is a high demand for deboned turkey, chicken and processed meat in Mexico which is the main cause of obesity (Zahniser and Coyle 2004). In this case, the studies indicate that the reduction taxes imposed to this products have increased to the importation of this products into the country. In addition, an increase in the supply of the above products indicates that its prices will be low thus increasing their demand in the market industry. That is, many people will buy this type of food in bulk thus contributing to diet imbalance which will eventually lead to obesity. On the other hand, increase in the prices of agricultural products in the country contributes to the insufficient production of farm products which are recommended for a healthy diet. It is recommended that the government should ensure that it increases taxes to all products that are likely to cause obesity amongst the citizen s. Also, the government should ensure that apart from offering health advice to its citizens, it should also ensure it reduces prices to food products produced in the country thus enhancing healthy diet amongst its citizens. The foreign direct investment is present in the Mexican food supply from production to retail market. The U.S benefits more from the Mexican market with a direct investment of millions of dollars. The U.S directly sells their processed food and beverages soft drinks and malt to Mexico at the very low price but in turn gaining around $180million each year. From all these exports, it is evident that the U.S is exporting obesity to Mexico. According to the Kants moral theory, life is more value because we are the holders of our life (ONeill 2000). Human beings must not be used by others to get happiness or enjoyment. The U.S is exporting their produce to Mexico gaining the ready market at the expense of the Mexicans who get obese as a result. Eating is an ethical issue and eating right is another ethical issue at hand, people's life must not be under threat because of a ready market for agricultural products. The utilitarian theory (1863) also known as the greatest happiness principle allows other people maximize their happiness for others as long as the benefits of the act outweigh the cost. Utilitarianism allowed the U.S do more research on agricultural production to save the rural communities from dying from anger. The U.S is justified for the overproduction and selling of the corn and ready to eat foods to Mexico at very low prices. The Mexican community is happy with the cheap food in their market which satisfies their urge to fight hunger not look after the rising trend of obesity. As long as the Mexicans are happy then export of corn, ready to eat food, high fructose corn syrup remains ethical. The third world countries are gaining weight as a result of the developed countries filling their market with cheap produce which have very low nutrient values (Candib 2007). Sugary beverages and ready to eat foods like chicken and turkey are blamed for obesity in Mexico and other developing countries. In this case, most of the people in Mexico are considered to attain obesity because of lack of adequate information in relation to health eating. Therefore, basing on this aspect, it is recommended that the government, as well as non-governmental organization that operates in health sector, should ensure that it offers adequate education to the general public in relation to importance of balancing their health as well as the negative aspects that come along as a result of not balancing the diet. In addition, the government should ensure that it encourages agriculture in the country to ensure that its citizens consume fresh produce from the firm. That is, people will only be encouraged if the prices of raw materials to the agricultural products are set to the minimum. As a result, most of the people will be encouraged to practice farming because of the low cost of producing this product thus contributing to the increase in the supply of fresh products from the firm in the country thus contributing healthy eating amongst the citizens in the country. In addition, there should be programs in schools to educate the children on the importance of putting into consideration aspects that relate to their health thus leading to an informed society in which children will grow up being health conscious thus avoiding obesity within the country. In my conclusion, various aspects have to be put into consideration to ensure that obesity has been avoided. In this case, increasing consumption of greens as well as fruits and daily exercise is one of the aspects that has been considered to be vital in building a healthy nation. In addition, the government should also participate in ensuring that its citizens contribute to healthy eating amongst its citizens. That is, it should ensure that it increases taxes to the products imposed that are likely to increase obesity amongst the citizens. In addition, it is recommended the government should encourage its citizens to practice agriculture for its the source of nutritious food that will lead to a healthy nation. Therefore, I do recommend the introduction of trade policies that will pay more attention to nutrition and less on a ready market. The public is to be made aware of the causes of obesity and how to eat well to avoid obesity and other non-communicable diseases brought by poor n utrition. List of Reference