Introduction | Text | Other Materials |
Dispute Resolution | Supplemental Agreements
Legislation, Regulations & Legislative History | Other NAFTA Gateways

Introduction

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) took effect on January 1, 1994. It is designed to remove tariff barriers between the U.S., Canada and Mexico over the next fifteen years. NAFTA includes two important side agreements on environmental and labor issues that extend into cooperative efforts to reconcile policies, and procedures for dispute resolution between the member states.

The U.S- Canada Free-Trade Agreement was a precursor of NAFTA. It was implemented on January 1, 1989, and is now suspended due to NAFTA.

Text of NAFTA

Online access is available from the Organization of American States and from the Solon Law Archive, a collection of historical legal documents relating to the evolution of Canada.

Print versions:

NAFTA supplemental agreements : North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation, Understanding Between the Parties to the North American Free Trade Agreement Concerning Chapter Eight-- Emergency Action. 43 p. Washington, DC : U.S. G.P.O., 1993. GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS PREX 1.2:AG 8

Other Materials

Bello,Judith H., et al., The North American Free Trade Agreement: A New Frontier in International Trade and Investment in the Americas. Washington, D.C. : Section of International Law and Practice, the American Bar Association and the International Lawyer, [1994]. 435 p. MAIN LIBRARY KDZ944.A41992 N67 1994--provides economic data as well as several chapters comparing NAFTA and the WTO agreement.

Bulmer-Thomas, Victor, et al., Mexico and the North American Free Trade Agreement : who will benefit? New York : St. Martin's Press, 1994. 257 p. MAIN LIBRARY HF1776 .M49 1994--analyzes the impact of NAFTA on Mexico.

Johnson, Jon Ragnar. The North American Free Trade Agreement : a comprehensive guide. Aurora, Ont. : Canada Law Book, c1994. 607 p. MAIN LIBRARY KDZ944.A4 1992 J6 1994--evaluates at NAFTA from a Canadian point of view.

Lassanyi, Mary E. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Beltsville, Md. : USDA, ARS, National Agricultural Library, [1997] 87 p. GOV DOCS A 17.24:97-03 --bibliography

Metz, Allan. A NAFTA bibliography. Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1996. 491 p. MAIN LIBRARY KDZ944.A12 M48 1996.

NAFTA : issues, industry sector profiles and bibliography. Commack, N.Y. : Nova Science Publishers, c1994. 332 p. BUSINESS LIBRARY HF3211 .N348 1994

NAFTA : customs procedures manual. Ottawa : Canada Communication Group, c1995. 1 v. Canada RV31-44-1995E

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) at a glance. . [Canada] : Government of Canada, [1993].24 p. Canada E74-56/1-1993E

North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act : media kit. [Ottawa?] : Government of Canada, [1993] 1 v. Canada E74-53/4-1992

Temporary entry to Canada under the North American Free Trade Agreement : a guide for American and Mexican business persons. [Ottawa] : Citizenship and Immigration Canada, [1994] 43 p. Canada Ci63-6/1995

To find other works about NAFTA and related issues, do a "LC Subject" search in the online catalog using Library of Congress subject headings such as "Canada. Treaties, etc. 1992 Oct. 7,"."Free Trade North America," and "North America Commercial Treaties."

Dispute Resolution

NAFTA's dispute resolution mechanism includes provisions for panels to settle disputes. The NAFTA Secretariat administers the dispute settlement procedure. Its web site contains panel decisions, the Code of Conduct for dispute settlement, rules of procedure for panels, information on the status of panels and a roster of panel members.

Supplemental Agreements

North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, North American Agreement on Labour Cooperation : Background information. 1 v. [Ottawa] : Government of Canada, 1993. Canada E74-57/1-1993E

Environmental Aspects | Labor Aspects

Environmental Aspects

NAFTA Environmental Review Committee (Canada) North American Free Trade Agreement, Canadian environmental review. [Ottawa] : Govt. of Canada, 1992. 121 p. Canada E74-54/1992E -- A 14 page "Executive Summary" at Canada E74-54/1-1992E

 

Labor Aspects (Under construction)

 

Legislation, Regulations & Legislative History (Under construction)

 

Other NAFTA Gateways

 

Canadian Department of Foreign and International Affairs NAFTA site
NAFTA Home Page (U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Market Access and Compliance)
NAFTA Research Guide (Duke University School of Law Library)
NAFTA Resources (University of Texas)

NAFTALAW.ORG -- "a web site where you can obtain some information about NAFTA investor-state dispute settlement; obtain copies of recent NAFTA Claim documents; and contact someone to learn more about bringing a NAFTA investor-state claim."