Is NAFTA good for everyone?

Looking at several viewpoints

Key VocabularyNAFTA - North American Free Trade

Agreement - This agreement allows Canada, the United States and Mexico to trade freely without tariffs.

maquiladoras - Mexican factories built on the border

consumers - people who buy goods

Making ConnectionsHow do you think NAFTA and maquiladoras are related to each other?

Why might business owners in the United States move their factories to Mexico?

American Business Owners Do you think American business owners

would like NAFTA and maquiladoras? Why or why not? 1. They can move their factories to Mexico

and ship the goods to the US with no tariffs. 2. They would not have to pay the workers in

Mexico as much as in the United States. 3. They would be able to sell their product for

cheaper, but still make a good profit.

Mexican Business Owner Would Mexican business owners like NAFTA

and maquiladoras? Why? 1.They probably would like NAFTA because

they would be able to trade freely. 2.They would not like foreign owned factories

because they would create competition.

Mexican Government Would a Mexican Government official like NAFTA

and maquiladoras? Why or why not? 1. NAFTA would be good for the economy of

Mexico. 2. Maquiladoras would provide jobs for Mexicans,

but the profit made by maquiladoras would go back into the US economy, not into Mexico’s.

3. Maquiladoras could hurt Mexican owned businesses.

Mexican Factory WorkerWould a Mexican factory worker like

NAFTA and maquiladoras?Why or Why Not?1. It would provide a job in a country

where there are not enough jobs.2. However, the wages are very low and

the working conditions are not good.

American Factory WorkerWould an American factory worker like

NAFTA and maquiladoras?Why or why not?1. Many American factory workers lose

their jobs because the owners move the factories to Mexico. American factory workers cannot move to Mexico to keep their jobs.

Environmentalists Would an environmentalist like NAFTA and

maquiladoras? Why or why not? 1. Building factories creates pollution. An

environmentalist would want to make sure the US, Canada, and Mexico all had laws to protect the environment. Since all three countries are neighbors, air pollution from one affects them all.

American ConsumerWould the American consumer like

NAFTA and maquiladoras?Why or why not?1. Goods made in Mexico would cost a

lot less because labor is cheaper there.