Facts About NAFTA

1. History of NAFTA

NAFTA is short for the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA covers Canada, the U.S. and Mexico making it the world’s largest free trade area in terms of GDP. Three U.S. Presidents were involved in creating it over a decade. Find out how it was created, what its purpose was and how large it is today.

2. Advantages of NAFTA

NAFTA created the world’s largest free trade area, linking 439 million people and producing $15.3 trillion in goods and services annually. Estimates are that NAFTA will increase U.S. GDP by between .1% - .5%. Trade between the NAFTA signatories tripled, from $297 billion in 1993 to $903 billion in 2007. Find out what industries benefited, and how NAFTA specifically supported this increase in trade.

3. Disadvantages of NAFTA

NAFTA has been criticized for both displacing American workers and decreasing wage levels for those that remain. Mexican workers have also suffered, as have Mexican farmers and its environment. Find out the facts behind these accusations, and how NAFTA contributed to these problems.

4. U.S. Regional Trade Agreements

How does NAFTA fit within the context of other U.S. regional trade agreements, such as CAFTA, FTAA, and MEFTI?