Alfredo Corchado and Jill Cowan, collaborators for the Dallas Morning News came up with an editorial piece that showcases how the Toyota factory in Guanajuato is a source of dreams, but also of anxiety for the people of this state, as NAFTA talks carry on under a shadow of doubt and Trump’s negative attitude towards Mexico.
The Lopez sisters’ soaring aspirations stand out from those of previous generations in their family in one significant way: They have nothing to do with immigrating to Dallas.
The sisters plan to triple the size of their family-owned tiny restaurant, Gorditas Margaritas, and they’re keeping their sons from making a beeline for Texas, as their grandfather and father did many years ago in search of opportunity. Instead, their boys are studying to become engineers with plans to work at a $1 billion Toyota plant that’s under construction nearby. It’s the reason for the family’s optimism — and some recent mood swings.
“My dreams are so big they hardly fit in my head,” said Yanet Lopez, scrolling through pictures on her smartphone of a group of Japanese engineers who gobbled up quesadillas and gorditas, without the spicy salsa. She proudly pointed to the visitors’ smiling faces. “They really believe in Mexico and seem sincere about it.”
Still, the Lopez sisters’ hopes for this central Mexican community in the state of Guanajuato are a bit tenuous, as automation in the United States grows and talks to renegotiate NAFTA begin.
Much is at stake for the United States and Canada, but especially for Mexico. Any changes to the agreement, which has paved the way for a relatively unfettered flow of goods across the continent, could derail the dreams of Mexican families like the Lopezes.
Recent news that Toyota, which moved its North American headquarters from California to Plano, was changing its plans for the factory — swapping out Corolla production for Tacoma trucks — has only heightened anxiety for many locals.
They’ve begun to wonder whether the switch reflects a bigger problem. Are the Japanese wavering on their long-term commitment to this region, which has longstanding economic ties to the United States, particularly North Texas?
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Source: https://www.dallasnews.com/