Free Trade Agreements - Essay Example

"Free trade is opposed by many political lobbyists: environmentalists, human rights advocates, peace advocates, nearly all labor organizations, some nationalists, Communists, agricultural interests, and anti-globalization campaigners." The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is just one of the American trade agreements that had been implemented in January 1994.

The first free trade agreement between Canada, the United States, and Mexico, developed to phase out tariffs on the majority of traded goods, the trade of services across borders, the safeguard against 'intellectual property rights, government securities and means to relieve and maintain any arising disputes amongst these three countries 2. There were environmental conditions that had been discussed during the negotiations due to certain environmental issues that had surfaced. Inquiries were conveyed over varying countries' environmental defensive actions and how futile implementation could cause an aggressive benefit and the relocation of certain business enterprises to such areas due to the lack of policies and principles.

One of the environmental concerns was the growth in the expected industrial areas along the US-Mexican border, causing an inevitably dramatic incline in already concerning pollution tribulations present. Although the environmental factors are not a norm of usual trade negotiations, they still played a very large role in these negotiations and other global trade negotiations. The Bush administration had been prompted to answer this dilemma and they had responded by saying that protection against a parties 'environmental, health and safety standards for products and produce' 3 are valid negotiation factors as long as they are based on scientific trials and statistics.

Thus the various negotiating parties were persuaded to incorporate environmental defense and to maintain progress into the formation of economic resolutions. If however, the provisions for environmental issues may affect the company involved investments, they are permitted to challenge these provisions. Although in this case it had been organized, 'The North American Free Trade Agreement' is still unsure of their US congressional support.