North American Free Trade Agreement

The North American Free Trade Agreement, known usually as NAFTA, is comprehensive trade agreement linking Canada, the U.S.A., and Mexico in a free trade sphere. Unlike the European Union, NAFTA does not create a set of supranational governmental bodies, nor does it create a body of law which is superior to national law. NAFTA went into effect on January 1, 1994.

See: anti-globalization movement.

NAFTA, as an international agreement, is very similar to a treaty. Under United States law it is classed as a congressional-executive agreement.

See also Free Trade Area of the Americas.