RKMBs Forums .::Important::. Politics and Current Events Who is to Blame for America's supposed Imperialism?

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Im Not Mister Mxypltk said:
Did you know that if a country wants to have a NAFTA deal with the US, a majority of their cinemas have to show mostly pictures made in Hollywood? Mexico's film industry has been growing lately because of a series of quality films being made in the country, but their growth was stopped when the quota of mexican movies shown in cinemas surpassed the quantity allowed by the treaty, so the US complained and they had to cut back on copies and stuff.

I'm not denouncing a crime against manking (it'd be more of a crime against culture, especially considering the quality of the average Hollywood movie), since these countries willingly signed the treaty, but it's still very curious. I doubt the film obligation is there because the US is worried about their economy...

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Thus, according to Miguel Necoechea (Mexican Coalition for Cultural Diversity), Mexican cinematographic production has dropped by 72% due to the invasion of the market by U.S. products. From 2000 to 2004, only 102 films were produced, because of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He cites Canada as an example, since it did not include culture in NAFTA. This was not the case for Mexico: “In 2004, 280 films were released in Mexican theaters: 166 were American, controlling 2,500 of the country’s 3,000 big screens and attracting 150 million viewers a year.” The result, he concluded, is “the closure of production houses, unemployment, and a drop in Mexican film exports. The relationship with the public has broken down; loyalty has dwindled and the American mindset dominates. Filmmakers are lobbying for an amendment to the free trade agreement, but the United States is placing enormous pressure on governments.” Necoechea believes that the UNESCO Convention on Cultural Diversity should “provide for retroactive steps” to remedy this situation.

Nabil Ayouch (Moroccan Coalition for Cultural Diversity) says what happened in Mexico is also happening in Morocco: “It has been 2 to 3 years since the United States signed free trade agreements with some thirty countries. Negotiations were held to the distress of filmmakers and in secrecy (…) The U.S. is negotiating a “package deal” to throw the border to both countries open. It’s David and Goliath, an unmanageable matchup. The entertainment industry is one of the top revenue sources for the United States, some years even surpassing aeronautics. We look like protectionists, opponents to trade. It’s easy to caricature. Those who are fighting for diversity are not fighting for withdrawal, but openness. In Morocco, debate is growing. Now that the agreement has been signed and is being put into action, opinions are flying. We’re asking for a quota policy, but have been able to make it compulsory.”

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