Understanding NAFTA: Mexico, Free Trade, and the New North America [Paperback]

William A Orme Jr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1996

Understanding NAFTA was first published in 1993 as Continental Shift: Free Trade & the New North America. This edition includes a new introduction that brings the NAFTA story up through 1995.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press; 2nd edition (1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292760469
• ISBN-13: 978-0292760462
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,316,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good background study in how NAFTA affects Mexico., October 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Understanding NAFTA: Mexico, Free Trade, and the New North America (Paperback)

This book is about Mexico - with litte coverage of how NAFTA affects Canada. It presents Mexico and its circumstances in a realistic manner. It is well written and easy to read. We recommend it to our clients interested in learning more about the Mexican people and the national economy. John R. Jagoe, Director, Export Institute.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overly Optimistic, April 10, 2006

By 

DerekH (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding NAFTA: Mexico, Free Trade, and the New North America (Paperback)

Overall, I think this book is a very good analysis of NAFTA. It highlights the economic history of Mexico and the role of Salinas in getting NAFTA off the ground. Orme presents a wealth of material that has definitely increased my knowledge of the agreement. Orme does an excellent job in elucidating the good facets of NAFTA; however, to get a better viewpoint of what NAFTA has done at the local level, I would encourage someone to read any recent ethnography of rural peoples in Mexico. Particularly those farmers who are eking out a living in the southern parts of Mexico, so they can buy corn grown in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Orme barely mentions the Zapatista uprising, though this is due in part to the publication date of the book. Also, I think much of the optimism surrounding the agreement in the book has been largely muted by the events of 9/11. Issues surrounding tighter border security has, in large part, replaced those surrounding free trade.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good review of Mexico, but soft on Canada, July 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Understanding NAFTA: Mexico, Free Trade, and the New North America (Paperback)

Orme presents a very readable account of the many changes taking place in Mexico as they relate to Nafta and the environment leading up to it. The book mainly discusses how Mexico and the US are integrating and largely ignores Canada, which he feels was taken care of in the FTA.

Overall, a very good account and introduction.