Boycott American businesses operating in Mexico

[Doyle Phillips]

Starbucks in crosshairs as Mexico boycott campaign simmers | Reuters

hace 22 horas - Seeking to quell a social media campaign imploring Mexicans
to boycott U.S. companies, Starbucks defended itself on Friday, saying it had ...
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico...SKBN15B2IS

---and don't forget to boycott GTO's new Bodega Aurrera--a totally owned
Wal-Mart chain.

Boycott American businesses operating in Mexico

[roberb7]

The most obvious target would be the soon-to-be-open Carl's Jr. at the Jardin del Cantador mall. This chain is owned by Secretary of Labor Andy Puzder.

[jesm]

I would suggest a boycott of any business solely because if it's nationality is misguided and could be hugely counter productive.
These "American" businesses can only exist here because they ofifer some benefit to their local customers. They employ millions of Mexicans and put a great deal of money into Mexico. They have nothing to do with the current political disaster unfolding north of their border.
Secondly, should any form of a counter/revenge boycott of Mexican goods be undertaken by USA it would be catastrophic to Mexico and Mexicans.
If one wants to directly protest via a boycott, it will be wiser to just boycott the United States of America. That's right, boycott Trump's America. Don't visit, move assets. Boycott.

[doncoulter]

I am not a fan of Walmart, in Mexico or anywhere. However, anyone thinking to boycott Mexican Walmarts on the grounds that they're "American businesses" should be aware of a few facts:

1. Walmarts in Mexico are not "American businesses," at least not entirely. All Walmart stores in Mexico are owned by Walmart de México y Centroamérica. This was originally a Mexican-owned company called Cifra. It is now 60 percent owned by the U.S.-based multinational Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.--but that also means that 40% of it is not owned by U.S. Wal-Mart. Since the company is publicly traded (i.e., it's on the Mexican stock exchange), it's not easy to say who owns that 40%. But surely many if not most of those owners are Mexican companies and individuals.

2. Walmart de México is the largest employer in Mexico outside of the government, with more than 200,000 employees. Even a partially successful boycott would cost some Mexicans their jobs. It might also hurt Mexican consumers, as jesm points out.

3. A thorough boycott of "American businesses" would also require one to avoid most travel by automobile, including taxis, since half or more of the gasoline sold in Mexico is refined in the United States.

A question: Do those who advocate "boycott[ing] American businesses operating in Mexico" also intend to boycott American businesses operating in the U.S.? Some members of this forum frequently post about shipping items by Amazon to U.S. addresses. Will they now boycott all U.S. retailers? What about Amazon? What about U.S. banks? What about PayPal?

As for Carl's Jr., its CEO, Andrew Putz--I mean Puzder--has not yet been confirmed as secretary of labor, so one can hope that the Senate develops a moral sensibility and a spine. But I would boycott Carl's Jr. anyway, for two reasons: (1) its history of unfair labor practices, and (2) who wants to eat that shit?

[peddler665]

Boycotts seldom achieve their goals (anybody remember the grape boycott 50 plus years ago) and hurt the consumers in the long run. While I never shop at Walmart in the US nor ever expect to & seldom enter a Starbucks. Nor have I ever eaten at Carl Junior's (who the Hell is Junior anyway?) It is more than I just do not like them, but always prefer local coffee shops, cafes & more consumer friendly stores such as Trader Joe's, Food Source & Sprouts.

[doncoulter]

"Boycotts seldom achieve their goals"? Well, that is perhaps true; I'm not a historian. But I do remember well the grape boycott, and it was a stunning success. One might also mention Gandhi's boycott of British products, the Montgomery bus boycott, and the boycotting of and disinvestment in apartheid South Africa.

Still, I would not encourage a boycott of Mexican Walmarts, for the reasons I outlined above.

[peddler665]

As a child of a Union Organizer (CIO/ Packing house industry) I have seen the futility of many boycotts in my life.
What often happens is what looks like a victory results in the Mechanization of many industries including agriculture ( grapes, tomatoes, cotton etc) resulting in a loss of jobs & benefits. Also the shut down of many industries or the breaking of unions, the packing house industry a perfect example. Many were shut and replaced by smaller more efficient operations paying far lower non union wages.
But be that as it is I still maintain that he vast majority of boycotts area failure or worst.
I really think we are basically on the same page Don as I see little benefit on jeopardizing peoples employment.
Perhaps the real battle is to go out to work for candidates who support our view points.

[Doyle Phillips]

Could be that the point of a commercial boycott is not to shut
down a business. Probably, no one expects that the Mexican
boycott of American "brands" will put the slightest dent in
Mal-Wart or other chain store profits.

The point of the boycott, for me, is to get the attention of
U.S. International Capitalists so that they may then relay
the "message" to their policy-making cronies in Trumplandia.

The Capitalists' message might be something like "Donald, if
you impose your 20% tax on Mexican-made products then
our precious profits in Mexico may diminish by dint of
customer boycotts."

[roberb7]

Here's an announcement from the Starbuck's CEO: http://occupydemocrats.com/2017/01/30/st...e-promise/
Personally, I rarely patronize Starbuck's, because I like to support local businesses.

As for Wal-Mart/Aurrera/Suburban/Sam's Club, I can't see any good coming from boycotting Mexico's largest employer.

[DonJuane]

Walmart is a shining example of a horrible corporation and should be boycotted both North and South of the border. I only purchase goods at Walmart if I am lost and starving or broken down and walking. The people who rejoice like kids when one opens in the neighborhood and kibitz about it being their home away from home must have either no idea of their policies or conscience of what they are contributing to. Otherwise I always buy Mexican over US because I came to live in Mexico, not drag the US and its corporations and customs along with me. Otherwise the only other "activism" I personally participate in while in Mexico is seeking out a Mom and Pop market in all instances over Oxxo whenever possible. If all else fails I go for the Exxtra.