NAFTA

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that controversy surrounding NAFTA has been relatively continuous since its inception. The author points out that the five most hotly debated questions surrounding NAFTA are (1) has NAFTA been a success? (2) has the U.S. lost more jobs than it has gained?, (3) has immigration from Mexico slowed?, (4) what are the known benefits and costs? (5) has the state of Texas benefited? The paper states that, despite significant failures and flaws, the North American Free Trade Agreement has been very successful in its twelve-year history. The paper includes a statistical table.

From the Paper:

"No trade agreement will be beneficial to everyone all the time. And while there certainly have been some losers in the wake of NAFTA, overall the effects have been positive. U.S. exports, for example, have risen significantly. This is a statistical benefit of the trade agreement. U.S. exports within NAFTA nations grew 103% between 1993 and 1998, while exports to all other nations increased at only half that rate. This is indicative of increased trade and, presumably, increased prosperity. However, studies written around the tenth anniversary of the trade agreement's inception reported different findings."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Fitzgerald, Sara J. "The Effects of NAFTA on Exports, Jobs, and the Environment: Myth vs. Reality." The Heritage Foundation. 1 Aug. 2001. 11 Feb. 2006 <http://www.heritage.org/Research/TradeandForeignAid/BG1462.cfm>.
• Martin, Phillip. "NAFTA and Mexico-US Migration." Giannini Foundation. 16 Dec. 2005. 11 Feb. 2006 <http://giannini.ucop.edu/Mex_USMigration.pdf>.
• "New Study Shows Impact of NAFTA on Texas Cities." Texas Public Policy Foundation. 9 July 1999. 11 Feb. 2006 <http://www.texaspolicy.com/press_releases_single.php?report_id=244>.
• "Ongoing NAFTA Debate, The." International Debates 3.5 (May 2005): 129.
• Wayne, E Anthony. "NAFTA: Ten Years After." U.S. Department of State. 20 Apr. 2004. 11 Feb. 2006 <http://www.state.gov/e/eb/rls/rm/31645.htm>.

More papers on NAFTA:

• Analytical Essay # 129850 : "The Effect of NAFTA on US Jobs"
• Research Paper # 89982 : "Effects of NAFTA on Mexico"
• Essay # 83641 : "The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)"
• Essay # 88191 : "NAFTA"

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