NAFTA issues have plagued the implementation from the beginning.
There are unforeseen issues that have arisen as a result of the ratification of NAFTA. Some of these issues are summarized below.
Harm to the Environment
One of the sanctions provided by NAFTA is that anything sold as a commodity must be accepted as a commodity that can be sold from then on. This has caused problems to the effect that since Canadian natural water has been sold in the past, its sale must be allowed under NAFTA despite the fact that Canadian natural water consumption is adversely affecting various Canadian ecosystems. This has also threatened the overall Canadian water supply.
Job Loss
Both the United States and Canada have reported decreasing employment in the industrial sector between 1993 and 2003. The only benefits to the industrial sector in each country were to large firms, while smaller businesses and individual workers suffered at the hands of shifts in employee procurement, particularly to Mexico. This has also contributed to lower wages and reductions in worker rights in Mexico.
Violations of NAFTA Terms
One of the more surprising issues with NAFTA is the fact that so many infractions have been left unchecked. For example, although the United States cites concerns like drug trafficking, it has still disallowed Mexican trucks to travel on U.S. highways, despite the fact that open transportation is a provision specifically indicated by NAFTA. Another direct violation is Canada’s attempts to hinder print advertising and dissemination from the United States. All three countries have violated environmental laws in various ways. Although these issues haven’t altered or hindered the overall purpose of NAFTA, they are problems that should be taken seriously and approached by the proper authorities.