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The Pros And Cons Of NAFTA

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The North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA) came into effect on January 1, 1994. One of the promises of the Trump administration in the US was to renegotiate the trilateral free trade deal, which operates between Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

While trade talks about the deal have been contentious, experts have long speculated NAFTA is good for Canada. On the other hand, many people were opposed to the deal when it first arrived nearly a quarter-century ago, and there are those who believe NAFTA has done more harm than good for the great white north.

Continuing trade talks have left many wondering what influence NAFTA has on Canada’s imports and exports.
How Free Trade Works
Before discussing the effects NAFTA has on Canada’s imports and exports, it helps to begin with a quick refresher on how free trade functions. When countries enter into these agreements, they agree to give each other preferential treatment when it comes to imports and exports. Under NAFTA, this means the elimination of tariffs on many products moving among Canada, the US, and Mexico. …show more content…

Canada is the US’s second-largest trading partner.

Mexico is Canada’s third-largest trading partner, and Canada ranks fourth on Mexico’s list.
Import/Export Statistics
Total trilateral trade between Canada, Mexico, and the United States has reached almost US$1 trillion under NAFTA. This represents a three-fold increase in trade since 1993. In the same period, trade between Canada and the US doubled.

Canada relies heavily on US demand. Nearly 80 percent of all Canadian exports were bound for the US market in 2016. Around $2.4 billion worth of goods and services cross the Canada-US border each day.

Canada also relies heavily on imports from the US. In 2016, nearly $266 billion made its way from the US into

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