La Apertura Comercial
Not a question, but just for future reference when reading about economic issues, 'la apertura comercial' means 'free trade.' I had a devil of a time figuring that out. Then again, my Spanish isn't that good.
Also, if you see the initials TLCAN, it's the Mexican name for NAFTA.
The only reason I'm posting it is because when I did a search here for 'la apertura comercial' nothing came up. Now it will show up here and presumably in Google and other search engines for future confused beginners. 
7 Answers
According to my source, 'las maquileras' are assembly plants in border towns for foreign corporations. Perhaps you're right because what is being exported is the assembled products.
Natasha said:
OK, thanks, I get it.
My remaining question would be about the best translation of "La exportación maquilera" . . . is it "material exports"?
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OK, thanks, I get it.
My remaining question would be about the best translation of "La exportación maquilera" . . . is it "material exports"'
"Apertura" means, among other things, "liberalization", "opening up (of economy)", "lifting (of business controls)". "Apertura comercial" is "trade liberalization" or "open trade
practices".
La exportación maquilera no enriquece en términos económicos a México, porque no le da un beneficio real, ni representa un comercio auténtico mexicano. La inclusión de la exportación petrolera en tal documento evita efectuar una evaluación real de la magnitud del impacto comercial de la apertura comercial, sobre todo del correspondiente a la operación del TLCAN.
Which I translated: The exportation from assembly plants do not enrich Mexico in econmic terms because it does not provide a real benefit nor does it represent genuine Mexican commerce. The inclusion of oil exports in such a report avoids making a real assessment of the magnitude of the commercial impact of free trade especially for the operation of NAFTA.
Feel free to correct that.
Natasha said:
Do you mind posting the context?
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Do you mind posting the context'
Pretty sure. I googled the phrase and looked at it in context and that's what I came up with. I'm helping my girlfriend (a Mexican economist) translate an abstract of a paper from a professor in to English. It's specifically dealing with NAFTA. She's not available at the moment to confirm my findings but I will check with her later.
Natasha said:
TLCAN would be Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte.
Are you quite sure that "la apertura comercial" is "free trade"? It sounds more like "commercial opening" or "commercial opportunity."
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TLCAN would be Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte.
Are you quite sure that "la apertura comercial" is "free trade"? It sounds more like "commercial opening" or "commercial opportunity."
