STRUCTURE OF FARMING UNDER FREER TRADE AMONG NAFTA COUNTRIES

Liberalization of markets under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has progressed unevenly. Major opportunities remain to open trade in agricultural products among member countries of NAFTA. Progress in negotiations depends on political as well as other factors, including how freer trade would affect farm structure in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The objectives of this paper are to analyze: • economic forces causing changes in agriculture in NAFTA countries; • the structure, composition, and location of farming with freer trade among NAFTA countries; • trade dispute tensions caused by freer trade and attending changes in the structure of agriculture; and • actions governments and the private sector would take to cushion adjustments and ease the transition to freer trade.