The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is a trilateral agreement between Canada, Mexico and the United States, established in 1994. The goal of NAFTA is to create a free trade zone in North America by eliminating tariffs and other trade barriers among the three countries, thereby promoting increased trade and investment.

Since its establishment, NAFTA has had a significant impact on trade and economic growth in North America. For example, according to the US Trade Representative, trade between the United States, Canada, and Mexico has increased from $290 billion in 1993 to $1.2 trillion in 2020, while the North American region as a whole has become the largest trading bloc in the world.

However, NAFTA has also been the subject of much controversy and debate, particularly in the United States. Critics argue that NAFTA has led to the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs to Mexico, and that it has contributed to downward pressure on wages in the United States. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that NAFTA has created new markets for US goods and services, and that it has lowered prices for consumers.

In recent years, NAFTA has undergone significant changes. In 2018, the United States, Canada, and Mexico agreed to a new trade agreement, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which replaced NAFTA. The USMCA includes updated provisions for digital trade, intellectual property, and labor and environmental standards.

Overall, NAFTA and its successor, the USMCA, have played a significant role in shaping economic relations between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. While there are ongoing debates and disagreements about the impact of these agreements, their importance cannot be ignored given their role in creating one of the world`s largest trading blocs.