The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect on January 1, 1994 between the United States, Canada and Mexico. The agreement created the biggest economic trading bloc in the world. NAFTA was the first multinational trade liberalization agreement, becoming a template for all that have followed. Phrases such as Investor-State Dispute Settlement, the loathed ISDS, became common practice going forward around the world.

For 23 years the discussion about benefits, handicaps, gains, losses, jobs and market share have remained mostly along lines of interest depending on who was speaking. Subsequent global accords such as the WTO have not only made use of NAFTA precedents, but also hemmed in the agreement on some fronts. Canadian governments of Chretien, Martin, Harper and Trudeau have fought in arbitration both for and against but never have any of them stated any intent to leave the agreement. Mexican governments of Salinas, Zedillo, Fox, Calderon and Nieto have seen massive overall improvements in their nation's health and it would be hard-pressed to find negative aspects of it in the big picture. American governments of Clinton, Bush and Obama stuck by the agreement, despite never ending special interest opposition and the biggest overall losses of the three nations by far.

Enter Donald Trump. Proclamations don't carry much force in international trade. Personal opinions (especially ill-informed ones) don't change trade agreements. The warning signs from individual US states and next-door allies fall on deaf ears as long as the cameras are rolling with the Dotard. Bluster and ignorance about procedure could actually leave the US weaker with a renegotiated NAFTA, leaving it altogether risks nothing short of a global recession. But the Narcissist King says it sucks, so it must right? uhh...no

Will NAFTA be improved, remain as is, or be sacrificed for one man's vanity?

NAFTA Or No NAFTA - Is This The Question Or Is It Economic Suicide To Leave?

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