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Top 10 NAFTA Facts You Should Know


you likely know the acronym but do you

you likely know the acronym but do you really understand what it means welcome

really understand what it means welcome

really understand what it means welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

to watchmojo.com and today we’re

to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10

counting down our picks for the top 10 nafta facts before we begin we publish

nafta facts before we begin we publish

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content for this list we’re looking at

content for this list we’re looking at interesting details about the North

interesting details about the North

interesting details about the North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA

American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA

American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA to its friends and enemies number 10

to its friends and enemies number 10

to its friends and enemies number 10 NAFTA did not originate with Clinton I

NAFTA did not originate with Clinton I

NAFTA did not originate with Clinton I believe we had made a decision now that

believe we had made a decision now that

believe we had made a decision now that will permit us to create an economic

will permit us to create an economic

will permit us to create an economic order in the world that will promote

order in the world that will promote

order in the world that will promote more growth more equality nowadays many

more growth more equality nowadays many

more growth more equality nowadays many people talk as if President Bill Clinton

people talk as if President Bill Clinton

people talk as if President Bill Clinton single-handedly made NAFTA happen in

single-handedly made NAFTA happen in

single-handedly made NAFTA happen in reality though talk of a trade agreement

reality though talk of a trade agreement

reality though talk of a trade agreement between the three North American

between the three North American

between the three North American countries goes back to 1979 when Ronald

countries goes back to 1979 when Ronald

countries goes back to 1979 when Ronald Reagan announced his presidential

Reagan announced his presidential

Reagan announced his presidential candidacy it’s time we stop thinking of

candidacy it’s time we stop thinking of

candidacy it’s time we stop thinking of our nearest neighbors as foreigners

our nearest neighbors as foreigners

our nearest neighbors as foreigners after the signing of a 1988 free trade

after the signing of a 1988 free trade

after the signing of a 1988 free trade agreement between Canada and the US

agreement between Canada and the US

agreement between Canada and the US Canada made a concerted push for a

Canada made a concerted push for a

Canada made a concerted push for a trilateral agreement in 1991 George HW

trilateral agreement in 1991 George HW

trilateral agreement in 1991 George HW Bush actually signed the pact in 1992

Bush actually signed the pact in 1992

Bush actually signed the pact in 1992 but it was not approved by Congress

but it was not approved by Congress

but it was not approved by Congress until Bush left office Congress passed

until Bush left office Congress passed

until Bush left office Congress passed the agreement in late 1993 during

the agreement in late 1993 during

the agreement in late 1993 during Clinton’s first term after which it was

Clinton’s first term after which it was

Clinton’s first term after which it was signed into law and went into effect

signed into law and went into effect

signed into law and went into effect early the next year but only after two

early the next year but only after two

early the next year but only after two side agreements were put in place to

side agreements were put in place to

side agreements were put in place to help protect workers and the environment

help protect workers and the environment

help protect workers and the environment number nine several Canadian groups

number nine several Canadian groups

number nine several Canadian groups challenged part of it Canadians in

challenged part of it Canadians in

challenged part of it Canadians in particular didn’t really see why they

particular didn’t really see why they

particular didn’t really see why they ought to be trading with with Mexico or

ought to be trading with with Mexico or

ought to be trading with with Mexico or perhaps getting embedded in an economy

perhaps getting embedded in an economy

perhaps getting embedded in an economy where there wasn’t a lot of trades

where there wasn’t a lot of trades

where there wasn’t a lot of trades various sections of NAFTA have faced

various sections of NAFTA have faced

various sections of NAFTA have faced criticism but chapter 11 has proven

criticism but chapter 11 has proven

criticism but chapter 11 has proven particularly controversial this is the

particularly controversial this is the

particularly controversial this is the part which allows a person or a company

part which allows a person or a company

part which allows a person or a company to sue one of the Pact countries when it

to sue one of the Pact countries when it

to sue one of the Pact countries when it does something that restricts profits

does something that restricts profits

does something that restricts profits opponents of this chapter believe that

opponents of this chapter believe that

opponents of this chapter believe that such legal action can force a country to

such legal action can force a country to

such legal action can force a country to partake in environmentally or socially

partake in environmentally or socially

partake in environmentally or socially destructive practices well yeah the

destructive practices well yeah the

destructive practices well yeah the frustration is that this is the 82nd

frustration is that this is the 82nd

frustration is that this is the 82nd pipeline they want permission to build

pipeline they want permission to build

pipeline they want permission to build across the border any

across the border any

across the border any one of them bill without any problem the

one of them bill without any problem the

one of them bill without any problem the 82nd is now the problem Canada has borne

82nd is now the problem Canada has borne

82nd is now the problem Canada has borne the brunt of this with more than 70% of

the brunt of this with more than 70% of

the brunt of this with more than 70% of actions brought against that country on

actions brought against that country on

actions brought against that country on more than one occasion

more than one occasion

more than one occasion Canada has lost and been forced to go

Canada has lost and been forced to go

Canada has lost and been forced to go against their own environmental policies

against their own environmental policies

against their own environmental policies as a result various groups have long

as a result various groups have long

as a result various groups have long denounced chapter 11 as unconstitutional

denounced chapter 11 as unconstitutional

denounced chapter 11 as unconstitutional but to no avail number 8 Mexico imports

but to no avail number 8 Mexico imports

but to no avail number 8 Mexico imports a lot of us stuff as you know I mean

a lot of us stuff as you know I mean

a lot of us stuff as you know I mean basically Mexico is the second largest

basically Mexico is the second largest

basically Mexico is the second largest buyer of US commodities and

buyer of US commodities and

buyer of US commodities and manufacturing although many opponents of

manufacturing although many opponents of

manufacturing although many opponents of NAFTA talk about perceived US losses

NAFTA talk about perceived US losses

NAFTA talk about perceived US losses under the agreement one area where the

under the agreement one area where the

under the agreement one area where the US has gained is in its exports to the

US has gained is in its exports to the

US has gained is in its exports to the south according to a 2016 report Mexico

south according to a 2016 report Mexico

south according to a 2016 report Mexico imports more from the US than do the

imports more from the US than do the

imports more from the US than do the nations that make up the brick block

nations that make up the brick block

nations that make up the brick block that is to say Mexico alone is importing

that is to say Mexico alone is importing

that is to say Mexico alone is importing more from the US than Brazil Russia

more from the US than Brazil Russia

more from the US than Brazil Russia India and China put together and it’s

India and China put together and it’s

India and China put together and it’s across a wide range of products from

across a wide range of products from

across a wide range of products from agriculture to auto parts but turnabout

agriculture to auto parts but turnabout

agriculture to auto parts but turnabout is fair play the u.s. ends up as the

is fair play the u.s. ends up as the

is fair play the u.s. ends up as the target point for 80% of Mexico’s exports

target point for 80% of Mexico’s exports

target point for 80% of Mexico’s exports incentives out there for us to really

incentives out there for us to really

incentives out there for us to really set an objective of negotiation the

set an objective of negotiation the

set an objective of negotiation the latest by the end of 2017

latest by the end of 2017

latest by the end of 2017 number 7 nafta plays to a Canadian

number 7 nafta plays to a Canadian

number 7 nafta plays to a Canadian strength in jobs it might go without

strength in jobs it might go without

strength in jobs it might go without saying but international trade is a very

saying but international trade is a very

saying but international trade is a very important component of the Canadian

important component of the Canadian

important component of the Canadian economy in fact it’s estimated that

economy in fact it’s estimated that

economy in fact it’s estimated that about 20% of all Canadian jobs are

about 20% of all Canadian jobs are

about 20% of all Canadian jobs are involved in or related to trade with

involved in or related to trade with

involved in or related to trade with other countries remember the nature of

other countries remember the nature of

other countries remember the nature of our economy is changing a little bit

our economy is changing a little bit

our economy is changing a little bit we’re moving from a manufacturing

we’re moving from a manufacturing

we’re moving from a manufacturing economy to a services economy so that it

economy to a services economy so that it

economy to a services economy so that it would be normal I think that you’d

would be normal I think that you’d

would be normal I think that you’d expect to see that that’s where we find

expect to see that that’s where we find

expect to see that that’s where we find the growth in employment the services

the growth in employment the services

the growth in employment the services sector in particular has benefited over

sector in particular has benefited over

sector in particular has benefited over the years since NAFTA began Canada has

the years since NAFTA began Canada has

the years since NAFTA began Canada has gone from importing more high-value

gone from importing more high-value

gone from importing more high-value services from the US than it exported to

services from the US than it exported to

services from the US than it exported to the exact opposite furthermore those

the exact opposite furthermore those

the exact opposite furthermore those employed by the oil industry

employed by the oil industry

employed by the oil industry significantly benefit from the increased

significantly benefit from the increased

significantly benefit from the increased export ation of that product to the US

export ation of that product to the US

export ation of that product to the US we want NAFTA to work we want free and

we want NAFTA to work we want free and

we want NAFTA to work we want free and fair trade and I think Canada wins in

fair trade and I think Canada wins in

fair trade and I think Canada wins in that way number six the agreement

that way number six the agreement

that way number six the agreement shifted trade balances

shifted trade balances

shifted trade balances the deficit do NASA as much as anything

the deficit do NASA as much as anything

the deficit do NASA as much as anything else when NAFTA went into effect

else when NAFTA went into effect

else when NAFTA went into effect everyone knew it would result in

everyone knew it would result in

everyone knew it would result in significant change but predicting

significant change but predicting

significant change but predicting exactly what those changes would be was

exactly what those changes would be was

exactly what those changes would be was difficult certainly many predicted a

difficult certainly many predicted a

difficult certainly many predicted a shift in trade balances but not everyone

shift in trade balances but not everyone

shift in trade balances but not everyone knew they would be as dramatic as they

knew they would be as dramatic as they

knew they would be as dramatic as they have been for example in 1993 us-mexico

have been for example in 1993 us-mexico

have been for example in 1993 us-mexico trade resulted in a net trade surplus of

trade resulted in a net trade surplus of

trade resulted in a net trade surplus of roughly five billion dollars for the

roughly five billion dollars for the

roughly five billion dollars for the United States in 2014 that had changed

United States in 2014 that had changed

United States in 2014 that had changed into a fifty four billion dollar deficit

into a fifty four billion dollar deficit

into a fifty four billion dollar deficit conversely the 1993 trade deficit of

conversely the 1993 trade deficit of

conversely the 1993 trade deficit of nearly three billion dollars the u.s.

nearly three billion dollars the u.s.

nearly three billion dollars the u.s. ran with Canada turned into a six

ran with Canada turned into a six

ran with Canada turned into a six billion dollar surplus in 2015 that’s

billion dollar surplus in 2015 that’s

billion dollar surplus in 2015 that’s quite a shift across both borders if

quite a shift across both borders if

quite a shift across both borders if lots of people are going to bring money

lots of people are going to bring money

lots of people are going to bring money to invest in the u.s. that’s going to

to invest in the u.s. that’s going to

to invest in the u.s. that’s going to mean a stronger dollar which is going to

mean a stronger dollar which is going to

mean a stronger dollar which is going to mean less competitive manufacturing

mean less competitive manufacturing

mean less competitive manufacturing number five opponents were worried about

number five opponents were worried about

number five opponents were worried about more than jobs

more than jobs

more than jobs well there’s largely a lack of public

well there’s largely a lack of public

well there’s largely a lack of public awareness of labor conditions of farm

awareness of labor conditions of farm

awareness of labor conditions of farm workers in Mexico one of the opped

workers in Mexico one of the opped

workers in Mexico one of the opped quoted arguments against NAFTA is the

quoted arguments against NAFTA is the

quoted arguments against NAFTA is the potential loss of jobs but in the

potential loss of jobs but in the

potential loss of jobs but in the lead-up to the signing of this agreement

lead-up to the signing of this agreement

lead-up to the signing of this agreement opponents voiced a number of other

opponents voiced a number of other

opponents voiced a number of other serious concerns beyond job loss many

serious concerns beyond job loss many

serious concerns beyond job loss many people worried about possible worker

people worried about possible worker

people worried about possible worker exploitation pointing to labor

exploitation pointing to labor

exploitation pointing to labor conditions in many Mexican factories as

conditions in many Mexican factories as

conditions in many Mexican factories as being substandard estas cosas d-end o en

being substandard estas cosas d-end o en

being substandard estas cosas d-end o en todos en todo mexico para tomatoes Oh

todos en todo mexico para tomatoes Oh

todos en todo mexico para tomatoes Oh c’est bien de todo el mundo what de

c’est bien de todo el mundo what de

c’est bien de todo el mundo what de gusta was residue Casas beyond human

gusta was residue Casas beyond human

gusta was residue Casas beyond human rights paying less for labor in one

rights paying less for labor in one

rights paying less for labor in one country also had the potential to hurt

country also had the potential to hurt

country also had the potential to hurt wages in all of the Pact nations in

wages in all of the Pact nations in

wages in all of the Pact nations in order to stay competitive many were also

order to stay competitive many were also

order to stay competitive many were also anxious about environmental effect such

anxious about environmental effect such

anxious about environmental effect such as increases in pollution brought about

as increases in pollution brought about

as increases in pollution brought about by more manufacturing in areas with

by more manufacturing in areas with

by more manufacturing in areas with lacks environmental safeguards number

lacks environmental safeguards number

lacks environmental safeguards number four

four

four there’s disagreement about nafta’s

there’s disagreement about nafta’s

there’s disagreement about nafta’s impact on the US for decades Washington

impact on the US for decades Washington

impact on the US for decades Washington has allowed other nations to wipe out

has allowed other nations to wipe out

has allowed other nations to wipe out millions of American jobs through unfair

millions of American jobs through unfair

millions of American jobs through unfair trade practices NAFTA was presented as a

trade practices NAFTA was presented as a

trade practices NAFTA was presented as a way to generate job growth and economic

way to generate job growth and economic

way to generate job growth and economic development for all the countries

development for all the countries

development for all the countries involved but it’s hard to objectively

involved but it’s hard to objectively

involved but it’s hard to objectively measure its performance NAFTA did not

measure its performance NAFTA did not

measure its performance NAFTA did not occur in a vacuum world events likely

occur in a vacuum world events likely

occur in a vacuum world events likely affected it

affected it

affected it in many ways critics cite a loss of as

in many ways critics cite a loss of as

in many ways critics cite a loss of as many as seven hundred and fifty thousand

many as seven hundred and fifty thousand

many as seven hundred and fifty thousand manufacturing jobs a depression in

manufacturing jobs a depression in

manufacturing jobs a depression in manufacturing wages and weakened

manufacturing wages and weakened

manufacturing wages and weakened environmental standards well we really

environmental standards well we really

environmental standards well we really under predicted what the damage would be

under predicted what the damage would be

under predicted what the damage would be so there has been a large increase in

so there has been a large increase in

so there has been a large increase in trade but a lot of it’s been a flood of

trade but a lot of it’s been a flood of

trade but a lot of it’s been a flood of new NAFTA import champions counter with

new NAFTA import champions counter with

new NAFTA import champions counter with the creation of as many as five million

the creation of as many as five million

the creation of as many as five million jobs lower prices for consumers and

jobs lower prices for consumers and

jobs lower prices for consumers and reduced government spending one study by

reduced government spending one study by

reduced government spending one study by the Peterson Institute for International

the Peterson Institute for International

the Peterson Institute for International Economics reveals a definite benefit but

Economics reveals a definite benefit but

Economics reveals a definite benefit but one that only works out to roughly four

one that only works out to roughly four

one that only works out to roughly four hundred dollars per person

hundred dollars per person

hundred dollars per person number three manufacturing went down

number three manufacturing went down

number three manufacturing went down wages went up what the Democrats at that

wages went up what the Democrats at that

wages went up what the Democrats at that point we’re ready to say and that is

point we’re ready to say and that is

point we’re ready to say and that is that NAFTA was going to cause America to

that NAFTA was going to cause America to

that NAFTA was going to cause America to lose millions of jobs when discussing

lose millions of jobs when discussing

lose millions of jobs when discussing the impact of NASA

the impact of NASA

the impact of NASA there is often a seesaw effect one thing

there is often a seesaw effect one thing

there is often a seesaw effect one thing goes down while another goes up and

goes down while another goes up and

goes down while another goes up and that’s definitely the case here the US

that’s definitely the case here the US

that’s definitely the case here the US had already been experiencing a decline

had already been experiencing a decline

had already been experiencing a decline in manufacturing before NAFTA but that

in manufacturing before NAFTA but that

in manufacturing before NAFTA but that decline significantly accelerated in the

decline significantly accelerated in the

decline significantly accelerated in the years that followed on the other hand

years that followed on the other hand

years that followed on the other hand wages and manufacturing actually went up

wages and manufacturing actually went up

wages and manufacturing actually went up from 1994 to 2004 pay for manufacturing

from 1994 to 2004 pay for manufacturing

from 1994 to 2004 pay for manufacturing jobs increased on average from 34% so

jobs increased on average from 34% so

jobs increased on average from 34% so there may have been fewer factory jobs

there may have been fewer factory jobs

there may have been fewer factory jobs but those that remain paid better

but those that remain paid better

but those that remain paid better ideally of course there’d be more jobs

ideally of course there’d be more jobs

ideally of course there’d be more jobs and better paying jobs but nobody ever

and better paying jobs but nobody ever

and better paying jobs but nobody ever said NAFTA was ideal we are asking too

said NAFTA was ideal we are asking too

said NAFTA was ideal we are asking too much of the nathir appeal to crazies job

much of the nathir appeal to crazies job

much of the nathir appeal to crazies job number two those lost jobs might not

number two those lost jobs might not

number two those lost jobs might not have been mapped asfalt

have been mapped asfalt

have been mapped asfalt our disastrous trade policies are one of

our disastrous trade policies are one of

our disastrous trade policies are one of the reasons as to why that has happened

the reasons as to why that has happened

the reasons as to why that has happened one of the most damning accusations

one of the most damning accusations

one of the most damning accusations flung against NAFTA involves the loss of

flung against NAFTA involves the loss of

flung against NAFTA involves the loss of all those apper mentioned manufacturing

all those apper mentioned manufacturing

all those apper mentioned manufacturing jobs after all even if jobs are created

jobs after all even if jobs are created

jobs after all even if jobs are created in other sectors of the economy that

in other sectors of the economy that

in other sectors of the economy that doesn’t necessarily help someone whose

doesn’t necessarily help someone whose

doesn’t necessarily help someone whose training hasn’t prepared them for jobs

training hasn’t prepared them for jobs

training hasn’t prepared them for jobs in those sectors according to economist

in those sectors according to economist

in those sectors according to economist Walter Kenzie’s however it’s likely that

Walter Kenzie’s however it’s likely that

Walter Kenzie’s however it’s likely that many of those jobs would have been lost

many of those jobs would have been lost

many of those jobs would have been lost even if there had been no NAFTA the

even if there had been no NAFTA the

even if there had been no NAFTA the emergence of China as a major

emergence of China as a major

emergence of China as a major international economic force

international economic force

international economic force it’s low-priced manufacturing abilities

it’s low-priced manufacturing abilities

it’s low-priced manufacturing abilities probably had a greater effect than NAFTA

probably had a greater effect than NAFTA

probably had a greater effect than NAFTA as did technological advances during the

as did technological advances during the

as did technological advances during the period and you say you know what I’d

period and you say you know what I’d

period and you say you know what I’d like you to watch over the deals that

like you to watch over the deals that

like you to watch over the deals that are being made with China because we’re

are being made with China because we’re

are being made with China because we’re getting killed on trade number one

getting killed on trade number one

getting killed on trade number one tariffs are not welcome under NAFTA

tariffs are not welcome under NAFTA

tariffs are not welcome under NAFTA certainly Canada tries to do as much

certainly Canada tries to do as much

certainly Canada tries to do as much trade as it can in the United States and

trade as it can in the United States and

trade as it can in the United States and vice versa but always in the basis of

vice versa but always in the basis of

vice versa but always in the basis of following the rules and not cheating

following the rules and not cheating

following the rules and not cheating tariffs are taxes put on goods that are

tariffs are taxes put on goods that are

tariffs are taxes put on goods that are imported into a country and are

imported into a country and are

imported into a country and are typically used to increase sales of

typically used to increase sales of

typically used to increase sales of homegrown goods but tariffs are a no-no

homegrown goods but tariffs are a no-no

homegrown goods but tariffs are a no-no under NAFTA and under most free-trade

under NAFTA and under most free-trade

under NAFTA and under most free-trade agreements the playing field is supposed

agreements the playing field is supposed

agreements the playing field is supposed to be leveled and tariffs do the

to be leveled and tariffs do the

to be leveled and tariffs do the opposite because of a pre-existing

opposite because of a pre-existing

opposite because of a pre-existing agreement there was already tariff free

agreement there was already tariff free

agreement there was already tariff free trade between Canada and the US

trade between Canada and the US

trade between Canada and the US NAFTA immediately removed about 50% of

NAFTA immediately removed about 50% of

NAFTA immediately removed about 50% of the tariffs with Mexico then removed the

the tariffs with Mexico then removed the

the tariffs with Mexico then removed the rest by 2008 restoration of tariffs is

rest by 2008 restoration of tariffs is

rest by 2008 restoration of tariffs is sought by some but it’s difficult to

sought by some but it’s difficult to

sought by some but it’s difficult to make work in the NAFTA framework if

make work in the NAFTA framework if

make work in the NAFTA framework if there’s refinements if there’s

there’s refinements if there’s

there’s refinements if there’s alterations if we need to look at NAFTA

alterations if we need to look at NAFTA

alterations if we need to look at NAFTA once again and and find some adjustments

once again and and find some adjustments

once again and and find some adjustments I think that’s ok do you agree with our

I think that’s ok do you agree with our

I think that’s ok do you agree with our picks check out these other great clips

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