[19990610]RS20229_北美自由贸易协定：五年后对美国的经济影响.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20229June 10, 1999NAFTA: Economic Effects on the United StatesAfter Five YearsArlene WilsonSpecialist in International Trade and FinanceForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade DivisionSummaryThe main economic benefit of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)is that, over time, it is expected to increase productivity and incomes in the UnitedStates, Mexico and Canada. In the near term, some reallocation of resources occurswithin each country, generating gains for some producers and workers and costs forothers. Since the Mexican and Canadian economies are small relative to the U.S.economy, both the long-term benefits and short-term adjustment costs of the NAFTA tothe United States are expected to be small. The data suggest that NAFTA has had apositive, but small, effect on U.S. trade with Mexico and that U.S. direct investment inMexico remains very small relative to total U.S. investment abroad. The number ofworkers displaced by import competition with Canada and Mexico or production shiftsto those countries is estimated to be very small compared with total U.S.