Since it took effect 22 years ago in 1994, NAFTA has played an important role in shaping how the U.S. economy has grown and changed in this context period of time. By taking steps to eliminate tariffs and make international banking much easier, NAFTA has had a myriad of both positive and negative effects on the U.S. economy. While NAFTA resulted in the elimination of many U.S. manufacturing jobs, it also increased trade and strengthened the economies of Canada and Mexico, creating an economic safety net in times of crisis. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayThe main provisions of NAFTA are set out below. Of these provisions, most have benefited the economies of each member country, but in different ways. The United States is able to export automobiles and agricultural products more cheaply to Mexico and Canada, and U.S. companies are able to make higher profits by having their products manufactured in Mexico, where labor is much cheaper, which in turn provides many manufacturing jobs for Mexican workers. . Canada is also able to more freely export agricultural products, as well as truckload imports and exports. However, these advantages have some disadvantages. It has become prohibitively expensive for U.S. companies to have their products manufactured locally, creating low-level jobs in American communities and increasing the amount of carbon emissions emitted from the process of transporting goods to their intended consumer market. This has also led to the United States incurring a massive trade deficit of approximately $47 billion. In addition to this, something that is often overlooked is that the relaxed trucking regulations outlined in NAFTA allow Canada to cheaply export landfill waste to Michigan (over 7.6 million tonnes in 2013), causing more air and water pollution, as well as spectacular views for state residents. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Overall, NAFTA represented a key improvement in diplomatic relations in North America. While it may be partly responsible for a gross increase in U.S. GDP, it has also created more than its fair share of economic and environmental conundrums, from widespread unemployment of manufacturing workers to a sharp change in the trade deficit. It's ultimately beneficial to corporate America, but it makes it harder to make a living for many working-class Americans and makes the United States less of a viable war economy by outsourcing our manufacturing jobs..