The report attributed the job losses to extra competition from Mexican imports and the construction of new factories there.

Colombin is also hoping for lower tariffs on Mexican imports of foreign machinery.

Since 2002, most Mexican imports must be individually tested and tagged.

But for every job lost to Mexican imports there will be at least one job created in export industries.

High oil prices and a strong American economy whose consumers buy Mexican imports now work in Mexico's favor.

The United States accounts for more than 60 percent of both Mexican imports and exports.

But some leading forecasters are taken aback by their own estimates of how many jobs Mexican imports will cost.

Also, getting Mexican imports to other parts of the country would be made easier and more efficient.

Unfortunately, the workers displaced by Mexican imports won't be the ones who find the extra work in export industries.

Florida's complaints about Mexican imports date to the late 1970's.