Is NAFTA That Great?
analytical Essay
4604 words
Before I get into the details of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that took effect on January 1, 1994 I want to call attention to what it is that makes this an interesting topic to me. On that date I was only eleven and was completely oblivious to what the agreement incorporated. My entire family comes from a Mexican heritage so NAFTA was definitely a topic of conversation at the dinner table. All I really understood was that its implementation would hopefully stimulate the Mexican economy and improve its trade relationship with the United States and the rest of the World.
Well now I am twenty-one and in the ten years since NAFTA has been implement I have heard relatively nothing about the benefits of the agreement. Therefore, I began to wonder why is it that I have heard nothing? In this research paper, I plan to not only help people better understand what NAFTA was trying to accomplish but also evaluate its overall effects. Did NAFTA accomplish what it said it would or has it accomplished nothing in the last ten years?
Overview of NAFTA
Three of the main issues that I would like to talk about later in this paper have to do with the peso crisis, the political turmoil that happened in 1994, and the many problems that exist on the US-Mexico borders. However, before I dive into those three areas I would first like to give an overview of NAFTA itself and its “effects.” I put effects in quotations because as I researched the agreement I quickly found out that many of the things that NAFTA claimed to accomplish either would have happened regardless or did not really happen at all.
The North American Free Trade Agreement, as mentioned earlier, was implemented on January 1, 1994. Its main goal was to basically phase out almost all of the restrictions on trade and investment flows between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. What is important to mention is that NAFTA mainly concentrated on the US-Mexico problem seeing that the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement had been implement a couple years before NAFTA was introduced.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that u.s. trade with mexico has increased in the past two decades due to mexico's economic reform and nafta.
- Opines that nafta had great intentions but many failed to realize that mexico already understood what had to be done.
- Explains that they were oblivious to the north american free trade agreement (nafta) that took effect on january 1, 1994. their entire family comes from a mexican heritage.
- Explains that nafta was an extension of a movement towards economic liberalization that started in the mid 1980's.
- Opines that it would be foolish to assume that nafta has achieved its goals without looking at other factors that may have contributed to the results that were associated with u.s.-mexican trade.
- Argues that nafta contributed to the peso crash and the mexican recession in late 1994. the guerilla uprising in chiapas, the assassination of luis donaldo colosio, and a lackadaisical monetary policy were all factors that cannot be ignored.
- Analyzes the impact of the peso crisis on mexico's economy.
- Argues that nafta has created inequalities that have only caused harm.
- Argues that nafta has only worsened the economic problems by damaging the labor force and the border’s ecosystem.
- Opines that nafta failed to accomplish conservative promises, and that the economic regime destroyed labor interests and exploited the fragile ecosystem along the mexican-american border.
- Concludes that nafta's effect on the u.s. trade balance with mexico has been minimal in absolute terms and in comparison with the size of the us economy.
Related
- opinion
- analytical
- explanatory
- NAFTAopinion essayNAFTA Since the beginning of civilization, trade has been an important issue. Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas in search of a faster and safer trade route to India. We as Americans fought for our independence over trade related issues, such as tariffs and rules on with whom we were allowed to export and import goods. Our people have always fought for the rights and ability to buy and sell what they want at a reasonable price.
In this essay, the author
- Explains nafta's advantages and disadvantages, including the ability to do something more efficiently with less labor or resources than another country.
- Opines that nafta has not helped the job market in the u.s. or mexico.
- Explains that american factories are moving across the mexican border where the rules and environmental standards are more slacked, while americans are losing jobs and have a trade deficit with mexico.
- Opines that mexico's maquiladora factories will have to become more spaced out, creating more jobs and raising the wages of mexican workers.
- Explains that they have always had a negative opinion of nafta, but they were surprisingly reaffirmed in their previous opinion.
- Explains the purpose of the north american free trade agreement (nafta) in article 102: objectives.
- Argues that nafta has enriched international corporations, but it hasn't brought much benefit to workers or the environment. the us has lost 766,000 jobs due to the agreement, while mexico has seen a nearly 21% drop in manufacturing wages.
- Opines that nafta has done more harm or good since its implementation. the us trade surplus with mexico quickly turned into a deficit, and at least half-million jobs have been lost.
- Describes the key points to remember regarding the north american free trade agreement.
- Explains the north american free trade agreement (nafta): deepening economic integration and resposes to competition.
2320 wordsRead More - Pros And Cons Of NAFTAanalytical essayThe North American Free Trade Agreement—NAFTA—was an important agreement signed between three countries—the U.S., Mexico and Canada. NAFTA played an important role between each of these countries’ relations with one another through imports and exports. Throughout the presidential elections throughout the years, NAFTA has been highly debated on whether or not it has helped benefit the economy of these countries or if it has caused a lot detrimental issues. NAFTA promised many benefits for these countries, but not all of their promises were carried through; many views across the political spectrum also have their indifferences about NAFTA.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the north american free trade agreement (nafta) was an important agreement signed between the u.s., mexico and canada.
- Explains that nafta was signed in 1994 with the goals of eliminating tariffs, promoting free trade and bringing mexico out of poverty and decreasing the immigration numbers.
- Explains that the clinton administration envisioned that nafta would create high-wage u.s jobs that would help expand businesses and the economy.
- Explains that mexico's economy was unstable and unfair in comparison to the u.s. and canada’s economic standing. the overvalued peso in mexico caused many problems economically.
- Explains that mexican workers were making it difficult for american citizens to get a job because many companies favored cheap labor. nafta created more job opportunities for many people.
- Analyzes mckee's argument that the u.s. economy has gained 30 million jobs since 1993, but many of those jobs were ones that didn't pay well nor did they offer work benefits and protections.
- Analyzes how mexico's maquiladora plants imported materials, assembled them and re-exported them to the u.s., but the only benefit was the creation of jobs. nafta defenders recognized the flaws of the agreement.
- Explains that nafta was successful because there was an increase in trade between three countries, which caused mexican exports to the u.s. to increase by 14 percent.
- Explains that mexico's trading relationship with the u.s. was important, but it also hurt its economy.
- Analyzes how bernie sanders viewed nafta's impact as negative by witnessing poor working conditions and low wage pay in mexico. he also observed that american chain companies laid off many u.s. workers to seek low-wage labor.
- Analyzes how donald trump doesn't support nafta and plans to redirect the u.s. in a different direction.
- Explains that nafta was supposed to help benefit the u.s., mexico and canada, but it did the opposite. the benefits didn't amount to any real changes in improving the economy.
1531 wordsRead More - North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)analytical essayNORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT (NAFTA) Brief Overview: NAFTA, The North American Free Trade Agreement, came into existence on January 1, 1994. NAFTA is essentially a free-trade agreement between the 3 North American nations of the Unites States, Canada, and Mexico. The major thought behind this treaty was to give the citizens and the companies of the North American nations many incentives to trade between themselves. The duties on U.S goods exported to Mexico were slashed by fifty percent, and other restrictions were to be detached from a lot of categories, such as motor vehicles, computers, automotive parts, and agricultural goods. NAFTA was also put into action so to safeguard the intellectual property rights of the companies, such as patents, copyrights, and trademarks.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that nafta is essentially a free-trade agreement between the 3 north american nations of the unites states, canada, and mexico.
- Explains that the signing of the nafta was a controversial issue, even before it came into existence.
- Analyzes the impact of nafta on the labor unions and the agricultural sector of the united states of america.
- Explains that nafta has helped mexico gain the most out of all the other 2 nations. maquiladoras are labor-intensive businesses that bond the bordering nations of united states and mexican cities.
- Analyzes how nafta led to rises in salaries in the united states, canada, mexico, and mexico. it's beyond uncertainty that these economists were thorough in their analysis.
- Explains that nafta led to a significant increase in trade between the united states, mexico and canada.
- Analyzes how u.s. exports to canada and mexico in 2010 were electrical machinery, vehicle parts, mineral fuel and oil, and plastics. the united states also saw eight lac new manufacturing jobs from 1994 through 1998.
- Opines that nafta may have had many benefits, but it hasn't eliminated all the problems associated with international trade.
- Explains that nafta eliminated tariffs between the united states, canada and mexico, but it did not eliminate the many customs regulation that can suppress trade.
- Explains that it has not been easy to study the exact macroeconomic effects that have taken place over the member countries since the signing of nafta.
- Opines that the effect of nafta on canada has been similar to that of the us. employees complain that their salaries are reducing as the enterprises in canada are planning for production plants etc.
- Opines that nafta continues to be controversial, much before its origin. many economists and socialists dispute that it has done nothing more than to aid the integration of the 3 nations
- Explains that tariffs are imposed to support or dampen trade. they can also be used to hit back against a trading partner's own tariff or to show displeasure. the united states received 25% of its imports from these two countries.
- Explains that nafta encouraged significant united states investment in mexico, but maquiladoras, where mexican employees give inexpensive labor to produce u.s. goods, have a bad quality of life for workers.
1770 wordsRead More - NAFTA and Mexicoanalytical essayMexico’s economy is undergoing a stunning transformation. Seven years after the launch of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is fast becoming an industrial power. Free trade with the U.S. and Canada is turning the country from a mere assembler of cheap, low-quality goods into a reliable exporter of sophisticated products from auto breaks to laptops computers. Although Mexico has seen economic growth lately, it still faces tremendous problems in the aftermath of the 1995 recession and the revolution that took place in the Chiapas which still wages on today. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects that NAFTA has had on the economy and it’s people during the implementation of NAFTA and in what NAFTA will bring in the future.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that nafta was the last straw for the indigenous people of chiapas. their revolt was inspired by five centuries of oppression and injustice.
- Analyzes how decentralized production implies a decomposition of the industrial working class to include more marginal workers and, especially, more women. the invisibility of workers makes them politically, if not economically, marginal.
- Explains lemco, jonathan, and robson, william. ties beyond trade: labor and environmental issues under the nafta.
- Opines that the president, the peso, market and those indians. the economist 24 dec 1994: 43.
- Analyzes the impact of the north american free trade agreement on mexico's economy and its people.
- Explains that the zapatistas feared the nafta would worsen their debilitating problems. they knew the treaty would affect them personally.
- Analyzes the impact of the north american free trade agreement on mexico's environment. the impoverished border region is known for poor drinking water, inadequate sewage treatment, and mass squatter settlements.
- Introduces lourdes beneria and shelley feldman in unequal burden.
- Describes the letters and communiques of subcomandante marcos and the zapatista army of national liberation.
3032 wordsRead More - NAFTA and the Labor Debateopinion essayNAFTA and the Labor Debate The Debate Since the end of the eighties and the beginning of the nineties, there has been a surge in the creation of trade agreements all over the world. The one encompassing the largest area and affecting the greatest number of people is the North American Free Trade Agreement (Text of the NAFTA, Organization of American States). The three major countries of North America signed this regional trade agreement in 1993: Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the north american free trade agreement (nafta) is a regional trade agreement between mexico, the united states, and canada.
- Opines that trade agreements like nafta, where manufacturing jobs are shifted from the developed world to the developing world, are necessary.
- Explains that mexico is becoming industrialized while the united states is entering a new era where the service business dominates. trade agreements like the north american free trade agreement facilitate this transition in economies.
- Analyzes how adam smith's view on division of labor is proving itself with the north american free trade agreement. the united states and mexico are engaged in the type of industry that best suits each country.
- Explains that the north american free trade agreement was designed to eliminate all trade barriers between the three countries and promote conditions of fair competition and increase investment opportunities.
- Explains that the nafta was mostly designed to take advantage of mexico's maquiladora program. they explain that they can bring as many foreign workers as they want but hourly wage earners have to be mexican.
- Explains that the north american free trade agreement was a highly controversial issue in all three countries before it came into effect.
- Explains that there are many sides to the labor dispute that erupted because of nafta. canada and the united states are developed both industrially and technologically, while mexico is still considered a developing country.
- Explains the impact of nafta on mexico and the united states. the u.s. government reports that 18 million jobs were created and 7 million lost in the us.
- Explains that mexico's increase in employment is more linked to nafta than in the united states. rates have also risen dramatically since the north american free trade agreement went into effect.
- Analyzes how adam smith tells us that the workmen want to get as much money as they can, while the masters seek to give as little money.
- Opines that the trade agreement was beneficial to both countries, but several sectors of the economies of each nation benefited more than others.
- Analyzes how the manufacturing sector has grown in mexico. it is mexico's largest economic activity second only to the commerce.
- Explains that manufacturing in the united states has remained stagnant throughout much of this decade and a greater part of the 1980’s. the highest number of workers this year is the month of october with 18,202,000 workers.
- Explains that the service occupation industry has seen a steady rise in employment over the past two decades. the service industry employment number now stands at its highest point in 1999.
- Opines that trade agreements like the one that the united states has with mexico will be the norm in the coming decades.
- Explains that mexican companies that export more than 80 percent of their production, pay 40 percent more. mexico is gaining not only with more jobs but higher paying jobs.
- Opines that the north american free trade agreement was a movement for growth instead of restraining the inevitable development of these countries.
- Cites globerman, steven, and alan rugman. foreign investment in nafta.
- Explains smith's inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations.
- Explains the secretaria de trabajo y prevision social. estadisticas laborales.
- Explains the north american free trade agreement at five years: what it means for the u.s. and mexico.
- Explains the north american free trade agreement: five years linking u.s. and mexican markets.
2959 wordsRead More - A Discussion of the Negative Impact of NAFTA on North Americaanalytical essayA Discussion of the Negative Impact of NAFTA on North America The North American Free Trade Agreement was passed in November of 1993 and went into effect on January 1, 1994. The agreement aimed to eliminate tariffs between Canada, Mexico and the United States, leading to the eventual creation of free trade among these three countries by the year 2008. Supporters of NAFTA billed the agreement as a wonderful opportunity to create jobs, stimulate competition, and free North America from harsh and often unfair tariffs that restricted trade between the three nations. From a theoretical perspective, NAFTA appeared to have the makings of a highly beneficial relationship between Canada, Mexico and the United States.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes salas, carlos, the impact of nafta on wages and incomes in mexico.
- Analyzes the economic and social impact of the north american free trade agreement on mexico, canada, and the united states.
- Argues that nafta has played a major role in the modernization of mexico. while free trade benefits mexican relations with the us, it fails to translate over to the global economy.
- Explains that nafta has created lopsided trade industries and substantial dependencies in mexico, canada and the united states.
- Argues that nafta cannot be solely blamed for the economic downturn facing mexico, canada and the united states.
2934 wordsRead More - U.S-Mexico Borderlandsanalytical essayAfter three years of debate NAFTA was established in 1994. Fears concerning NAFTA included job creation, loss and transfer, wages and infrastructure. (Ganster/Lorey 188-189) However, with the implementation of NAFTA the economy grew. Ganster and Lorey reveal that bilateral trade increased by $211.4 per year from 1989 to 2004. Commerce grew by 20 percent in the first six months of 1994. There were advantages and disadvantages of NAFTA, nevertheless, NAFTA “intensified the integration of the two economies rather than distancing them.” (Ganster/Lorey 190)
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the border region has seen rapid transformation from a cattle ranching and mining area that attracted u.s., mexican and european capitalists to the center of an extraordinary amount of international capital.
- Explains that the implementation of railroad throughout mexico and its border region had a great impact on the economic and population growth of mexico during the late 19th century.
- Analyzes how diaz's plan to establish "order" meant "political centralization". he took away its citizens' right to elect government officials and began appointing them himself.
- Explains how the lazaro cardenas administration put into action a land reform program, which provided land and work to hundreds of citizens and boosted agriculture.
1084 wordsRead More - The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)analytical essayThe North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), came into effect on January 1, 1994, creating the largest free trade region in the world, generating economic growth and helping to raise the standard of living for the people of all three countries participating. By strengthening the rules and procedures governing trade and investment, the NAFTA has shown to be a great base for adding to Canada’s prosperity and has set a valuable example of the benefits of trade liberalization for the rest of the world. NAFTA was designed with many economic results in mind. Hopes were that not only trade would be easier, cheaper, and easier for all countries involved, but economic wealth and growth would follow. The support for NAFTA was spilt among the citizens of Canada, half saw the potential, while the rest seeing it to have a terrible effect on Canadian employment. Roughly 20 years has past since putting this agreement in place, and the NAFTA agreement has proven to been a mixed blessing for this country.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the north american free trade agreement has impacted the imports and exports of goods to canada positively.
- Explains that canada has benefited directly from nafta as every one in five jobs are linked to international trade.
- Explains that the north american free trade agreement (nafta) created the largest free trade region in the world, generating economic growth and raising the standard of living for all three countries participating.
- Analyzes how the north american free trade agreement has benefited canada as it has increased investments. the agreement lowers risk for foreign investors as they are given the same protection as local or domestic investors.
1359 wordsRead More - Globalization: The European Union, the ASEAN Group, and NAFTAexplanatory essayGlobalization has become one of the most influential forces in the twentieth century. International integration of world views, products, trade and ideas has caused a variety of states to blur the lines of their borders and be open to an international perspective. The merger of the Europeans Union, the ASEAN group in the Pacific and NAFTA in North America is reflective of the notion of globalized trade. The North American Free Trade Agreement was the largest free trade zone in the world at its conception and set an example for the future of liberalized trade. The North American Free Trade Agreement is coming into it's twentieth anniversary on January 1st, 2014. 1 NAFTA not only sought to enhance the trade of goods and services across the borders of Canada, US and Mexico but it fostered shared interest in investment, transportation, communication, border relations, as well as environmental and labour issues. The North American Free Trade Agreement was groundbreaking because it included Mexico in the arrangement.2 Mexico was a much poorer, culturally different and protective country in comparison to the likes of Canada and the United States. Many members of the U.S Congress were against the agreement because they did not want to enter into an agreement with a country that had an authoritarian regime, human rights violations and a flawed electoral system.3 Both Canadians and Americans alike, feared that Mexico's lower wages and lax human rights laws would generate massive job losses in their respected economies. Issues of sovereignty came into play throughout discussions of the North American Free Trade Agreement in Canada. Many found issue with the fact that bureaucrats and politicians from alien countries would be making deci...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the north american free trade agreement was the largest free trade zone in the world at its conception and set an example for the future of liberalized trade
- Opines that the north american free trade agreement has been beneficial for canada due to its strengthening of relations with the united states and increasing economic growth.
- Explains that the north american free trade agreement was beneficial to canada because it strengthened its relationship with the united states.
- Opines that the trudeau government's attempt to diversify trade relations was unsuccessful. the national energy program did not generate active participation in canadian industries.
- Analyzes how the national energy program created a bad reputation for canadian trade because it violated the international convention of not altering national policy to take advantage of international foreign investment trends.
- Opines that the failure in this initiative prompted the government to restrict trade industries in world trade and stimulate canadian business through a variety of new policy measures.
- Explains that the lack lustre effect of this policy initiative resulted in senate committees to look into the issue of liberalizing trade with the united states through various standing committees.
- Explains that free trade would eliminate the canadian identity, erode the nation's national interest, and allow for canada to be culturally absorbed by the united states.
- Explains that the us was irritated with the state of international trade during the reagan administration. the north american free trade agreement binds canada, the united states and mexico in a regional economic integration agreement.
- Opines that canada's inclusion in the north american free trade agreement would have rendered the nation helpless to the framework of the united states.
- Explains that the hub position possesses all of the control and power over the secondary spoke members in the framework.
- Explains that nafta has created a fair framework to handle disputes between the two nations.
- Explains that trade enhances bilateral relations to promote their self-interest and create a system where disputes can be discussed supranationally.
- Explains that the north american free trade agreement has been beneficial for canada due to the immense economic growth that it has provided.
- Explains that the united states was canada's largest source of foreign direct investment in 2009, accounting for fifty-two percent of fdi in the nation.
- Explains canada's economic integration with mexico increased remarkably in the nineties. mexico imports a considerable amount of manufactured goods into the canadian market.
- Explains that the north american free trade agreement allowed for the flow of goods and services across the borders of mexico, canada, and the united states to produce approximately eighty percent of growth in manufacturing shipments as well as employment in the nation.
- Explains that canada's integration with nafta members has allowed for higher wages, productive trade, investments, and innovation to occur in the nation.
- Concludes that the north american free trade agreement has set a great example for liberalized trade for the past twenty years.
- Opines that mcinney, joseph, and the british journal of canadian studies report on us-canadian economic relations, twenty years after the usa-canada free trade agreement.
- Opines that hart, michael, bill dymond, and colin robertson, "decision at midnight: inside the canada-us free trade negotiations".
- Explains that hart, michael, bill dymond, and colin robertson, "decision at midnight: inside the canada-us free trade negotiations".
- Explains mcdougall, john n., drifting together: the political economy of canada-us integration.
- Opines that there will be a canadian-american free trade association.
- Opines that there will be a canadian-american free trade association.
- Opines that the decision at midnight: inside the canada-us free trade negotiations, was published by ubc press in 1994.
- Explains that hart, michael, bill dymond, and colin robertson. decision at midnight: inside the canada-us free trade negotiations.
- Summarizes hart, michael, bill dymond, and colin robertson's book, decision at midnight: inside the canada-us free trade negotiations.
- Explains that hart, michael, bill dymond, and colin robertson, "decision at midnight: inside the canada-us free trade negotiations".
- Summarizes hart, michael, bill dymond, and colin robertson's book, decision at midnight: inside the canada-us free trade negotiations.
- Explains chambers, edward j., nafta in the new milennium, edmonton, alberta, university of alberta press, 2002.
- Explains chambers, edward j., nafta in the new milennium, edmonton, alberta, university of alberta press, 2002.
- Explains thomas, david m., canada and the united states: differences that count.
- States that chambers, edward j., nafta in the new milennium, edmonton, alberta, university of alberta press, 2002.
- Explains that a canada–us customs union: potential economic impacts in nafta countries.
- Explains that a canada–us customs union: potential economic impacts in nafta countries.
- Explains that a canada–us customs union: potential economic impacts in nafta countries.
- Describes ghosh, madanmohan, and someshwar rao's perspectives on a canada-us customs union.
- Explains that a canada–us customs union: potential economic impacts in nafta countries.
- Explains that a canada–us customs union: potential economic impacts in nafta countries.
- Explains chambers, edward j., nafta in the new milennium, edmonton, alberta: the university of alberta press, 2002.
- Describes ghosh, madanmohan, and someshwar rao's perspectives on a canada-us customs union.
- Summarizes hart, michael, bill dymond, and colin robertson's book, decision at midnight: inside the canada-us free trade negotiations.
- States lipsey, richard g., "will there be a canadian-american free trade association?" the world economy 9 (2008): 218-238.
- Describes mcdougall, john n., drifting together: the political economy of canada-us integration.
- Cites mckinney, joseph, "us-canadian economic relations, twenty years after the usa-canada free trade agreement." british journal of canadian studies 23 (2010).
- Explains rao, sharma, and acharya, canada–u.s. trade and foreign direct investment patterns.
- Explains thomas, david m., canada and the united states: differences that count.
3413 wordsRead More - The Pros And Cons Of NAFTAanalytical essayWhen thinking about North American and its countries it is hard not to think about the North American Free Trade Agreement. Well, it may be easy to not think about but of this essay let just say that everyone thinks about it. This trade agreement was implanted over 20 years ago and the affects of this agreement are still being talked about today. This agreement is being talked about because of the numerous criticisms it has received since in was enacted in 1994. Where the agreement was actually beneficially is not the main topic of discussion. In this essay, it will examine the main criticism of NAFTA and tried to explain how they came to be. The main argument is that NAFTA is more known for its criticism then what is has done to create better trade among its members.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the north american free trade agreement has been criticized since it was enacted in 1994. the main argument is that nafta is more known for its criticism than what it has done to create better trade among its members.
- Explains that the north american free trade agreement (nafta) was a trilateral free-trade deal that came into being in january 1994.
- Opines that nafta will create more jobs than it destroys. the current trade surplus between the u.s. and mexico was simulated based on the overvaluation of the mexican peso.
- Opines that nafta was criticized for its impact on the mexican economy and promises made when it was created, but it created an open and free trade network between the u.s., canada and mexico.
- Analyzes how nafta's impact on mexico has been a source of disagreement on the success of the trade agreement.
1323 wordsRead More