Transcript NAFTA

NAFTA
What is it good for?
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
NAFTA Objectives
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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)
Important Dates
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Signed in 1992 by member states
Mexico signed December 1992
Went into effect on January 1, 1994
US Senate voted 61-38 on HR 3450
November 20, 1993
• US House voted 234-200 Nov. 17, 1993
• Final agricultural trade restrictions
removed in 2008
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
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
Winners and Losers
• Opponents – labor,
environmentalists
• Investment
agreement, not a
trade agreement
• Wage rates
• What was that you
were saying about
globalization?
Your Thoughts?