1. NAFTA
What is it good for?

2. What is NAFTA?
“The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a regional agreement between the Government of Canada, the Government of the United Mexican States and the Government of the United States of America to implement a free trade area.”
NAFTA Secretariat website

3. NAFTA Objectives Eliminate trade barriers Promote fair competition
Increase investment opportunities
Protect intellectual property rights
Effectively implement and enforce the agreement
Work to enhance and expand the agreement (sect. 102, NAFTA)

4. Important Dates Signed in 1992 by member states
Mexico signed December 1992
Went into effect on January 1, 1994
US Senate voted on HR 3450 November 20, 1993
US House voted Nov. 17, 1993
Final agricultural trade restrictions removed in 2008

5. Information, please?
Internal review panel established to resolve trade disputes
NAFTA Mexico secretariat information may be obtained at Mexico’s Ministry of the Economy
Links 454 million people
Total merchandise traded in 2010 over $944 billion

6. Why NAFTA? Promoters Policy makers
Stats – 89% of Mexico’s exports go to US, 74% of imports come from US
Carlos Salinas
Ernesto Zedillo
Raise living standards of
Mexican citizens
Improve US-Mexico
relations

7. Winners and Losers Opponents – labor, environmentalists
Investment agreement, not a trade agreement
Wage rates
What was that you were saying about globalization?

8. Your Thoughts?