From NAFTA to USMCA: the reform of the North American integration

Abstract

The United States, Mexico and Canada agreed to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), in force since January 1, 1994. The NAFTA is replaced by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). President D. Trump, whose aim was to achieve the most favorable conditions for the United States cooperation with neighboring countries, was the driving force behind the negotiations. Under pressure from Washington, Mexico City and Ottawa were compelled to make significant concessions, but on a number of fronts repulsed the attacks of the White House and basically retained access to the strategically important USA market. In a broader context, it could be argued that USMCA was the first significant move in the Washington administration’s global game, aimed at the revision of the current trade and economic world order.