Organizing the Underground NAFTA

Abstract

Much has been written about the traffic in illegal drugs and undocumented immigrants from Mexico to the United States. This article deals with the other side of the coin: the traffic in contraband merchandise from the United States to Mexico. Its similarity to the drug trade is explored: It satisfies a short-term need in a part of Mexican society while at the same time being detrimental to the society as a whole. One difference between the drug trade and la industria fayuquera is the fact that whereas Mexico is rather discreet in terms of its role as a provider of drugs for the U.S. market, the role of the United States in providing contraband merchandise for the Mexican market is as open and aboveboard as the Chamber of Commerce itself. Finally, the role of the arreglo ¹ in terms of rationalizing the industry is discussed by analyzing what happens when the arreglo, at least partially, breaks down.