efore NAFTA, this area of Mexico has been integrated with U.S. companies. In 1989, Vitro, a Monterrey manufacturer of glass and household appliances, bought Anchor Glass, an unprofitable U.S. company. Vitro introduced better technology and made the company profitable. It also entered into ventures with foreign companies, including Ford, Dow, and Whirlpool, and it now has assets of over $4.4 billion ("It's Happpening in Monterrey" 50).
Many analysts assert that even though Mexico offers the lure of low-paid workers, high-paying manufacturing jobs in the United States will not necessarily be shifted to Mexico. According to a new study by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), since 1986 the number of manufacturing and service jobs tied to American's $422 billion in total merchandise exports actually grew from 42 percent to $7.2 million ("Who Gains From A Trade Deal?" 8).
The economists at USTR analyzed hourly wage rates in 125 U.S. industries and found that pay for the export-related jobs averaged $11.69 an hour, which was nearly 17 percent m
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