USA and Mexico Winners under NAFTA
Angus Reid Survey Shows Canadians Want New Free Trade Deal
Aug 1, 2008
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) establishes a privileged trade area encompassing Canada, the United States and Mexico. Under NAFTA, the 3 nations have pledged to promote economic growth by eliminating or reducing tariffs while expanding both trade and investment throughout North America.
According to Angus Reid Strategies’ July 2008 online poll, only 18% of nation-wide respondents voted for Canada to remain a member of NAFTA under its current terms. In contrast, 52% said that Canada should do whatever is necessary to renegotiate NAFTA terms while 11% want Canada to immediately break off from the deal. About 19% were undecided about their NAFTA positions.
Survey responses give insights as to why Canadians are increasingly dissatisfied with NAFTA.
Which Country Benefits Most from NAFTA?
Results from the July 2008 Angus Reid poll show that Canadians think that the United States and increasingly Mexico have realized the greatest advantages since the NAFTA partnership was launched in 1994.
- 46% of Canadians perceive the U.S. dominating NAFTA (down 9.8% from 51% in March 2008)
- 30% perceive Mexico as the biggest winner (up 36.4% from 22%)
- 7% perceive Canada as the biggest winner (down 12.5% from 8%).
- 17% were unsure.
Do Canadian Workers Benefit from NAFTA?
A key finding from Angus Reid’s results is that most Canadian workers see little or no tangible advantages from NAFTA.
- 50% of respondents saw no benefits at all to Canadian workers
- 29% saw moderate benefits
- 4% saw great benefits
- 17% were unsure.
Do Canadian Tourists Benefit from NAFTA?
Respondents did agree that NAFTA grants some benefits to Canadian travelers.
- 36% of respondents saw no benefits at all to Canadian workers
- 35% saw moderate benefits
- 6% saw great benefits
- 23% were unsure.
Do Canadian Manufacturers Benefit from NAFTA?
An even higher percentage concede that Canada’s manufacturing industry has realized advantages from NAFTA.
- 32% of respondents saw no benefits at all to Canadian manufacturers
- 42% saw moderate benefits
- 11% saw great benefits
- 15% were unsure.
Does the Canadian Economy in General Benefit from NAFTA?
Perhaps the most positive finding for NAFTA’s current terms is the fact that over half of survey participants attribute moderate or great benefits to Canada’s general economy.
- 28% of respondents saw no benefits at all to the general Canadian economy
- 46% saw moderate benefits
- 10% saw great benefits
- 16% were unsure.
Objections to Current NAFTA Terms by Province
Canada’s Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Labrador and Prince Edward Island) voiced the strongest disapproval of NAFTA: 68% want Canada to renegotiate while 7% opted for leaving NAFTA whatever the cost.
From Ontario, 49% want a renegotiated NAFTA while 10% want to leave. In the western provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan known for their strong farming communities, only 43% voted to restructure the deal but 15% pushed to eliminate NAFTA – a larger percentage than from any other region in Canada.
