US & World Economies World Economy Trade Policy What Was the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)? By Kimberly Amadeo Updated on May 30, 2022 Reviewed by Robert C. Kelly Reviewed by Robert C. Kelly Robert Kelly is managing director of XTS Energy LLC, and has more than three decades of experience as a business executive. He is a professor of economics and has raised more than $4.5 billion in investment capital. learn about our financial review board In This Article View All In This Article Definition of NAFTA How NAFTA Worked Pros and Cons of NAFTA Notable Happenings Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: The Balance / Definition The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was a treaty between Canada, Mexico, and the United States that eliminated most tariffs between the counties. It was replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on July 1, 2020. Key Takeaways The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was a treaty among Canada, Mexico, and the United States that eliminated most tariffs among the countries.NAFTA was the world’s largest free trade agreement when it entered into force on January 1, 1994.In addition to eliminating tariffs, NAFTA accomplished several other things, including granting most-favored-nation status to all countries involved. While NAFTA increased trade, critics argued that many U.S. manufacturing jobs moved to Mexico. NAFTA was replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on July 1, 2020. Definition of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) NAFTA was the world’s largest free trade agreement when it was established on January 1, 1994, among Canada, the United States, and Mexico. NAFTA was the first time two developed nations signed a trade agreement with an emerging market country. Through NAFTA, the three signatories agreed to remove trade barriers between them. By eliminating tariffs, NAFTA increased investment opportunities. Acronym: NAFTA How the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Worked NAFTA accomplished six distinct things for the participating countries. First, NAFTA granted most-favored-nation status to all co-signers. That meant each country treated the other two fairly and couldn't give better treatment to domestic investors than to foreign ones. They also couldn't offer a better deal to investors from non-NAFTA countries and had to offer federal contracts to businesses in all three NAFTA countries. Second, NAFTA eliminated many tariffs on imports and exports among the three countries. Tariffs are taxes that are used to make foreign goods more expensive. NAFTA created specific rules to regulate trade in farm products, automobiles, and clothing, for example. Third, exporters were required to get certificates of origin to waive tariffs. That meant an export had to originate in the United States, Canada, or Mexico. A product made in Peru but shipped from Mexico would still pay a duty when it entered the United States or Canada. Fourth, NAFTA established procedures to resolve trade disputes. Parties would start with a formal discussion, followed by a discussion at a Free Trade Commission (FTC) meeting if needed. If the disagreement wasn't resolved, a panel reviewed the dispute. Note The trade dispute resolution process helped all parties avoid costly lawsuits in local courts and helped them interpret NAFTA’s complex rules and procedures. These trade-dispute protections applied to investors as well. Fifth, all three NAFTA countries were required to respect patents, trademarks, and copyrights. At the same time, the agreement ensured that these intellectual property rights didn't interfere with trade. Sixth, the agreement allowed business travelers easy access throughout all three countries. Pros and Cons of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Pros Lower grocery prices Lower gas prices Increased trade and growth Cons Fewer manufacturing jobs Lower wages Worker exploitation in Mexico Pros Explained Lower grocery prices: U.S. grocery prices were lower due to tariff-free imports from Mexico. Lower gas prices: Imported oil from both Canada and Mexico prevented higher gas prices.Increased trade and growth: Easing tariff restrictions and lower prices on many goods led to increased trade and economic growth for all three countries. Note NAFTA increased the competitiveness of these three countries in the global marketplace. It allowed them to compete better with China and the European Union. By per capita GDP on a purchasing power parity basis, China is now the world's largest economy, having surpassed the United States in 2014. Cons Explained Fewer manufacturing jobs: Some argue that NAFTA had the effect of sending many U.S. manufacturing jobs to lower-cost Mexico.Lower wages: U.S. workers who kept jobs in those industries had to accept lower wages.Worker exploitation in Mexico: Mexico's workers suffered terrible labor conditions in its maquiladora programs. A maquiladora is a low-cost, U.S.-owned manufacturing operation or factory operating in Mexico, typically near the Mexico-U.S. border. Notable Happenings It took three U.S. presidents to put NAFTA together. President Ronald Reagan kicked it off during his 1979 announcement of his bid for the presidency. He wanted to unify the North American market to compete more effectively. In 1984, Congress passed the Trade and Tariff Act, which gave the president fast-track authority to negotiate free trade agreements. It permitted Congress only the ability to approve or disapprove, and it couldn't change negotiating points. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush signed NAFTA shortly before he left office. It then went back to the legislatures of all three countries for ratification. In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed it. NAFTA went into effect on January 1, 1994. On November 30, 2018, the United States, Mexico, and Canada renegotiated NAFTA. The new deal is called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The implementation act passed the House in December 2019 and the Senate in January 2020, and it was signed by President Trump on January 29, 2020. It was ratified in Mexico in June 2019 and in Canada in March 2020. The USMCA went into force on July 1, 2020. Some of the key differences between NAFTA and the USMCA are: A requirement that 75% of auto components are made in North America, an increase from 45% under NAFTAA decrease in tariffs and restrictions on products that help American farmersCheaper customs duties and taxes for shipping across borders Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Was NAFTA bad for the environment? In Mexico, the changes in farming that NAFTA prompted increased the use of chemicals and fertilizers for farming, as well as deforestation so farmers could stay in business and stay competitive. These changes degraded the environment. What is the difference between NAFTA and the EU? NAFTA was a free trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It was designed to increase economic growth and investment by removing barriers to trade among the three countries. The European Union (EU) is an alliance of European nations that eliminates border controls among member countries. It created a unified monetary system and allowed people and goods to move freely. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Department of Agriculture. "U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)." The Office of Trade Agreements Negotiation and Compliance. "Chapter Eleven (Investment) of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)." The Office of Trade Agreements Negotiation and Compliance. "Chapter Ten (Government Procurement) of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)." Inc. "North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)." United States Customs and Border Protection. "Chapter Six - Certificate of Origin." NaftaNow. "North American Free Trade Agreement." Department of State. "Visas for Canadian and Mexican NAFTA Professional Workers." Kearney. "How NAFTA Affects U.S. Retail." International Trade Commission. "U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement: Likely Impact on the U.S. Economy and on Specific Industry Sectors," Page 106. Council on Foreign Relations. "NAFTA and the USMCA: Weighing the Impact of North American Trade." The World Bank. "GDP, PPP (Current International $) — China, United States, European Union." International Trade Commission. "The Impact of NAFTA on U.S. Labor Markets," Page 4. North American Congress on Latin America. "Maquiladoras and the Exploitation of Migrants on the Border." 103rd Congress, First Session. "H.R.3450 - North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act." Congressional Research Service. "The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)," Page 2. Congressional Research Service. "The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)," Page 1. Office of the United State Trade Representative. "The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Fact Sheet Automobiles and Automotive Parts." Office of the United States Trade Representative. "United States–Mexico–Canada Trade Fact Sheet Modernizing NAFTA Into a 21st Century Trade Agreement." Sierra Club. "NAFTA's Impact on Mexico," Pages 1-2.