The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) created a pact between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.  The agreement removes restraints to trade such as quotas and tariffs, and generally attempts to promote trade and investment between the three nations.

The NAFTA Logo.  Image Credit: The NAFTA Secretariat

In addition to the business people, union representatives, and many other interest groups who argued about this legislation, environmental activists also took a stance.

One major concern of environmentalists was that current laws protecting the environment would be weakened or even eliminated as a result of NAFTA.  The environmentalists see NAFTA as a threat to the progress the environmental movement has struggled to make over the last decades.

Another worry was that Mexico's high levels of pollution would affect all three nations.  The low environmental standards in Mexico were also seen as a threat to the environment of the United States and Canada.

To some extent, the voice of the environmental movement was heard.  NAFTA created the Border Environment Cooperation Commission, which listens to complaints about nations that fail to enforce environmental regulations and seeks to help communities in all three countries improve their local environments.

Although NAFTA is in some respects favorable to the environment, it also implies certain problems from an environmental perspective.  Some previous laws meant to protect the environment may be eliminated now because they restrain trade between the three countries.

NAFTA Secretariat

Noam Chomsky on the NAFTA Agreement