6. The RISE of Globalization and NAFTA
The 1990s saw globalization accelerate at an unprecedented pace, with the 1994 launch of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) serving as a defining milestone. By lowering trade barriers between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, NAFTA fueled economic integration and reshaped industries across the continent. This era set the stage for ongoing debates about the impact of free trade on jobs, wages, and national sovereignty. Today, questions about globalization’s benefits and drawbacks remain central to economic and political discussions worldwide. [Council on Foreign Relations]
