North American free trade: issues and recommendations

Abstract

This book has been the most widely cited analysis of the issues underlying the NAFTA negotiations. Many of its recommendations helped shape the negotiations. For those seeking in-depth analysis of the key issues involved in the negotiations, this book is an ideal companion to the authors' NAFTA: An Assessment, which evaluates the final agreement.The first part of the study surveys US, Mexican, and Canadiannegotiating objectives. Part two examines the implications ofNAFTA for trade, investment, and employment; labor andenvironmental concerns that arise because of Mexico's lower level of economic development; and the cross-cutting issues of rules of origin and intellectual property. Part three analyzes the energy, auto,steel, textile, agricultural, and financial services issues that werea major focus of the negotiations. Part four gives the authors'recommendations for making the agreement a win-win-win propositionfor all three countries and to strengthen the open world tradingsystem.