Mexico Proposes a Canal of its Own

The approval of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993 has given new life to a proposed intracoastal canal project between Brownsville, Texas and Tampico, Mexico. Proponents of the canal believe it would establish an economical mode of transportation close to the most important industrial zones in Mexico and result in increased access to North American markets. However, the project is opposed by many who have voiced concerns about its potential environmental consequences. As currently proposed, the canal would have significant impacts on the coastal habitats of eastern Mexico. It is one of the single largest projects threatening wetland habitats in North America.