The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) took effect on January 1, forming the largest free trade zone in the world. Signed by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the goal of NAFTA is to create better trading conditions through tariff reduction, removal of investment barriers, and improvement of intellectual property protection. NAFTA continues to gradually reduce tariffs on set dates and aims to eliminate all tariffs by the year 2004. Before NAFTA was established, investing in Mexico was a difficult process. Investors needed the Mexican Government's approval and were also required to meet specific investment guidelines. These requirements necessitated investors to export a set level of goods and services, utilize domestic goods and services, and transfer technology to competitors. Under NAFTA, investors no longer need government approval to invest and are treated as domestic investors. NAFTA has also increased intellectual property rights and allowed companies to obtain patents in Mexico and Canada. In the past, companies were hesitant to export research and development intensive goods; with increased intellectual property protection, however, exports of these goods have shown a definite increase. .
The free trade that NAFTA has established has greatly benefited the U.S. economy. During the years from 1994 to 1997, U.S. trade with Mexico and Canada rose 44 percent. This extensive growth is accredited primarily to the reduction of tariffs. As tariffs were lowered, U.S. goods became cheaper and more competitive in Mexican and Canadian markets, and at this lower price level the quantity demanded of U.S. goods increased. Therefore it becomes less expensive for U.S. firms to supply goods to Canada and Mexico as the supply curve shifts upward. NAFTA has had the greatest effect on the agricultural sector. From fiscal year 1997 to 1998, U.S. farm and food exports to Mexico climbed by $881 million to $5.