SANTA TERESA, N.M. -- The first round of talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement start on August 16 in Washington, D.C., and some are worried that significant changes to NAFTA could put New Mexico's improving economy in jeopardy.
President Trump had called the agreement the worst trade deal ever, but has since walked back his rhetoric about canceling it. New Mexico's economy finally is showing signs of growth after several stagnant years, and Jerry Pacheco, chief executive with the Border Industrial Association, said he worries changes to NAFTA could stall that progress.
"NAFTA - it's been just one of the bright spots in our state economy to be able to build that trade relationship with Mexico,” Pacheco said. “And New Mexico during the past five years has led the nation at points in terms of export growth and trade with Mexico."
New Mexico's unemployment rate of 6.7 percent is the highest in the country, but a new economic report said the state's gross domestic product - a key economic indicator - grew by 2.8 percent in the first quarter of this year, the third-highest growth of any state.
Trump has blamed NAFTA for the loss of manufacturing jobs in America, but some economists say it also has created 2 million to 4 million other jobs. Pacheco said he wants lawmakers to improve, not eliminate, the 23-year-old agreement.
"Let's take these lemons that Washington has given us and make lemonade,” he said. "Let's go ahead and look at the agreement and see where it can be tightened up, where it can be improved and how we can increase trade between the United States, Mexico and Canada."
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has said at least 30,000 New Mexico jobs can be attributed to NAFTA.
"It seems like the White House has a very Eastern United States orientation, and they don't understand how things work here in the Southwest and particularly with trade with Mexico,” Pacheco said.
He said he's seen first hand in Santa Teresa how NAFTA has opened up New Mexico to the rest of the world. He worries radical changes to the agreement would reverse that.
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Lawmakers in Olympia this session moved to add more protections for consumers against predatory loans.
Washington state lawmakers passed Senate Bill 6025 unanimously in both chambers, closing a loophole companies were using to evade caps on the amount of interest charged on loans.
Sam Leonard, an attorney in Seattle, said tech companies providing financial services such as loans would charter out of state banks, especially in Utah, where lenders can charge unlimited interest rates.
"These fintech lenders a lot of times will charge 150, 200% interest on relatively small dollar loans, $3,000, $5,000 and the like," Leonard explained.
Washington state has a set of protections called the Consumer Loan Act to shield people from predatory loans. Leonard said capping interest rates at the federal level would help people across the country.
However, he emphasized the bill goes a long way to increase protections for Washingtonians.
"Not a lot of states at this time have passed similar legislation," Leonard pointed out. "Washington is out in front of the curve with regard to protecting low-income Washingtonians or other Washingtonians that might enter into these predatory loan products."
Leonard added the issue with predatory loans is they keep people in continuous debt cycles.
"Loan products like these essentially strip low-income individuals' ability to improve their economic situation," Leonard noted.
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While there's snow in the immediate forecast, the spring storm season has arrived in Minnesota and state officials said with complaints related to homeowner insurance claims on the rise, it is important to monitor changes in policies.
The Minnesota Commerce Department said complaints from policyholders, largely stemming from their claims being denied, have more than doubled since 2020.
Julia Dreier, deputy commissioner of insurance for the Minnesota Department of Commerce, said under a changing climate, the nation is seeing plenty of extreme weather events resulting in wind and hail damage, and insurance companies are adjusting to what's happening.
"Insurance costs are going to increase," Dreier pointed out. "We do want to make sure that Minnesotans are prepared."
As some carriers narrow what is covered or require higher deductibles, Dreier urged consumers to carefully review their policy when it is up for renewal, to avoid surprises when they have to file a claim. The department acknowledged changes can slip under the radar when consumers rely on paperless statements sent via email, or with busy schedules preventing them from reading all the fine print in documents they receive.
The department emphasized it is a complicated process in getting complaints resolved, noting some can be partially reversed in favor of the homeowner. Dreier noted they work closely with the industry to make sure a company's actions are within the letter of the law.
"One of our jobs is to make sure that insurance companies aren't doing something unethical when they're submitting their policy forms to us and their rates to us for review," Dreier added.
The department does have a new video on its YouTube channel, which offers more details on how to better prepare yourself ahead of any future claims, including knowing whether your policy offers flood protection and assessing the value of items in your home.
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Wisconsin has announced a big development in trying to establish more digital equity around the state.
Gov. Tony Evers and the Public Service Commission say Wisconsin's blueprint for digital equity has been accepted by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.
That means the state is eligible for up to $30 million to implement its approach over the next five years.
Martha Cranley - state director for AARP Wisconsin - called it a robust plan, noting that older populations continue to face challenges in being connected to the digital world.
"We know that at least 15% of people 50-plus in Wisconsin are not connected," said Cranley, "either because the wires simply don't come to their house, or they don't have a device, or they don't know how to use it."
Cranley said the lack of connection is especially concerning in rural areas across northern Wisconsin, where aging communities have limited resources.
Stakeholders also note an infusion of new aid is helpful with the federal government's Affordable Connectivity Program - which provides discounts on monthly internet bills for eligible households - in danger of running out of money.
Cranley said the state's plan came together following extensive public outreach, in which her organization helped convey the need for improved internet access for those 50 and older.
"They certainly heard from older people about how important this is to connect to their doctor," said Cranley, "and to connect to government services, and frankly, find employment."
Overall, Evers says the plan's federal approval means more than 410,000 homes and businesses will be better positioned to be connected to new or improved high-speed internet service.
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