NAFTA at Ten: Lessons from Recent Studies

RS21737 -- NAFTA at Ten: Lessons from Recent Studies

Updated June 8, 2005

Summary

On January 1, 2004, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) completed its tenth year and most of its provisions are now implemented. Its anniversary sparked numerous evaluations, which are particularly relevant as the United States pursues free trade agreements with multiple Latin American countries. Most studies found NAFTA's effects on the U.S. and Mexican economies to be modest at most. This report provides an analytical summary of the economic lessons reached in support of Congress's role in the trade policy process. It will not be updated.