--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When it [NAFTA] was sold, we were…" description: "\"When it [NAFTA] was sold, we were supposed to get two or three times more exports to Canada or Mexico than they exported to us. It's been the exact opp..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/collin-peterson-19338_canada_when-it-nafta-was-sold-we-were-supposed_2145190.jpg" --- # When it \[NAFTA\] was sold, we were supposed to get two or… ![“When it [NAFTA] was sold, we were supposed to get two or three times more exports to Canada or Mexico than they exported to us. It's been the exact opposite.” quote by Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/collin-peterson-19338_canada_when-it-nafta-was-sold-we-were-supposed_2145190.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/collin-peterson-19338_canada_when-it-nafta-was-sold-we-were-supposed_2145190.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/collin-peterson-19338_canada_when-it-nafta-was-sold-we-were-supposed_2145190.jpg) > “When it \[NAFTA\] was sold, we were supposed to get two or three times more exports to Canada or Mexico than they exported to us. It's been the exact opposite.” [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The expected trade benefits of NAFTA did not materialize; instead, U.S. exports to Canada and Mexico fell while imports rose. **In simple terms:** NAFTA hurt U.S. export levels. Key Takeaway Reevaluate trade agreements carefully. Themes trade economics policy consequences Mood skeptical analytical Type policy economic critical When to use this quote - export businesses - policy makers - economists - trade negotiators Key Concepts comparative advantage trade imbalance political rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - How can future agreements protect domestic exporters? - What metrics should assess trade success? A Different Perspective Trade gains are not guaranteed by free‑trade deals alone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Canada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canada/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Mexico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mexico/) [NAFTA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nafta/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) ## Related quotes > [NAFTA, by itself, will not collapse. The possibility is that the United States leaves the treaty, but the treaty itself would keep regulating relations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/nafta-by-itself-will-not-collapse-the-possibility-is-that-the-united/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [Like so many free trade deals before and since, Nafta was sold as a massive opportunity for working people and their prospects. Forecasts spoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-gardiner/like-so-many-free-trade-deals-before-and-since-nafta-was-sold-as-a/) [Barry Gardiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-gardiner/) > [I can't come back home with an agreement that will not be a win-win-win situation for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/i-can-t-come-back-home-with-an-agreement-that-will-not-be-a-win-win/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [Being able to have the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA is a great honor for us. Being able to speak at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonso-davies/being-able-to-have-the-world-cup-in-canada-mexico-and-the-usa-is-a/) [Alphonso Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonso-davies/) > [Border relations between Canada and Mexico have never been better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/border-relations-between-canada-and-mexico-have-never-been-better/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I am always an optimist. The pessimists are the liars who refuse to admit what is happening. And I'll give you three things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bowden/i-am-always-an-optimist-the-pessimists-are-the-liars-who-refuse-to/) [Charles Bowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bowden/) > [The real end winner of NAFTA is going to be Mexico because we have the human capital. We have that resource that is vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicente-fox/the-real-end-winner-of-nafta-is-going-to-be-mexico-because-we-have/) [Vicente Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicente-fox/) > [Since NAFTA was put in place, Mexico has lost 1.9 million jobs and most Mexicans' real wages have fallen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-lynch/since-nafta-was-put-in-place-mexico-has-lost-1-9-million-jobs-and/) [Stephen F. Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-lynch/) > [Mexico is much bigger than NAFTA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-videgaray-caso/mexico-is-much-bigger-than-nafta/) [Luis Videgaray Caso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-videgaray-caso/) > [NAFTA will continue to regulate the relationship between Mexico and Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/nafta-will-continue-to-regulate-the-relationship-between-mexico-and/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [Let me first clarify that NAFTA is a trilateral agreement. The decision of walking away is not of Mexico or Canada. The decision of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/let-me-first-clarify-that-nafta-is-a-trilateral-agreement-the/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [NAFTA's been a big problem for sugar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/nafta-s-been-a-big-problem-for-sugar/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [I fought NAFTA when it passed; it has been a big disaster for us, in my opinion. If we can renegotiate that, it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/i-fought-nafta-when-it-passed-it-has-been-a-big-disaster-for-us-in-my/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [Well, the sugar guys have been dealing with NAFTA ever since it passed. Now we've got Mexico dumping sugar that's subsidized by the Mexican…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/well-the-sugar-guys-have-been-dealing-with-nafta-ever-since-it-passed/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-nafta-can-work-better-but-it-s-a/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) ## More by Collin Peterson > [ There's no question that \[Donald\] Trump got elected because of rural America. And our party still is in denial. They don't get it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/there-s-no-question-that-donald-trump-got-elected-because-of-rural/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [ So \[Republicans\] packed all the Democrats into districts, very Democratic districts. What that's done is made our party urban, more liberal, and so those… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/so-republicans-packed-all-the-democrats-into-districts-very/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [I don't know how you change that. There's hardly anybody left like me in the Democratic Party in Congress. These districts have been so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/i-don-t-know-how-you-change-that-there-s-hardly-anybody-left-like-me/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [ \[Rural people\] have a different lifestyle, and they don't want to change it. They're happy with the way things are. It's causing the party… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/rural-people-have-a-different-lifestyle-and-they-don-t-want-to-change/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [I fought NAFTA when it passed; it has been a big disaster for us, in my opinion. If we can renegotiate that, it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/i-fought-nafta-when-it-passed-it-has-been-a-big-disaster-for-us-in-my/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [NAFTA's been a big problem for sugar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/nafta-s-been-a-big-problem-for-sugar/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [What's happened is the Republicans have been smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/what-s-happened-is-the-republicans-have-been-smart/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [ The \[Democratic\] party's become an urban party, and they don't get rural America. They don't get agriculture. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/the-democratic-party-s-become-an-urban-party-and-they-don-t-get-rural/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [Republicans have spent a lot of money redistricting and everything, getting control of these governorships and statehouses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/republicans-have-spent-a-lot-of-money-redistricting-and-everything/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [ It was kind of interesting: \[People\] didn't really want to talk about it too much. And then after the election, it's kind of like… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/it-was-kind-of-interesting-people-didn-t-really-want-to-talk-about-it/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [ I always run ahead of the ticket \[compared to Democratic presidential candidates\]. But this time there were a lot of people that just voted… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/i-always-run-ahead-of-the-ticket-compared-to-democratic-presidential/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [ If everybody in our caucus had a 50/50 \[Democrat/Republican\] district, we'd have a lot different discussion. But if they have a 90 percent Democratic… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/if-everybody-in-our-caucus-had-a-50-50-democrat-republican-district/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [I heard a lot about the Affordable Care Act, too. About how people in the individual market were getting clobbered with all these increases,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/i-heard-a-lot-about-the-affordable-care-act-too-about-how-people-in/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [ You can't have a majority party in Minnesota or throughout the country without \[support from\] the people in these \[rural\] districts. Given the position… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/you-can-t-have-a-majority-party-in-minnesota-or-throughout-the/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) > [The banks run the place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/the-banks-run-the-place/) [Collin Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) [Explore all 33 Collin Peterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/) ## More Canada quotes > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [Our country has shown a lack of will to resist its own disintegration .. . Canada is practically the only country left in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/northrop-frye/our-country-has-shown-a-lack-of-will-to-resist-its-own-disintegration/) [Northrop Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/northrop-frye/) > [“Not very long ago I was driving with my husband on the back roads of Grey County, which is to the north and east…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/not-very-long-ago-i-was-driving-with-my-husband-on-the-back-roads-of/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [Purchasing items made in the U.S. for our stores here or Canadian goods for our stores in Canada makes good business sense because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/purchasing-items-made-in-the-u-s-for-our-stores-here-or-canadian/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [Canada has become such a staging area for Chinese money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kwan/canada-has-become-such-a-staging-area-for-chinese-money/) [Kevin Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kwan/) > [“To be honest, it's a real relief to go to Canada where I can be among my relatives. Just the kind of break I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-puddicombe/to-be-honest-it-s-a-real-relief-to-go-to-canada-where-i-can-be-among/) [Ken Puddicombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-puddicombe/) > [When I left Canada for Bayern, people said, 'You'll never make it. You'll be back in a year.' I stopped going to school because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-hargreaves/when-i-left-canada-for-bayern-people-said-you-ll-never-make-it-you-ll/) [Owen Hargreaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-hargreaves/) > [LEGO has announced that they are shutting down their U.S. factory and moving it to Canada. LEGO employees say it's their fault because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/lego-has-announced-that-they-are-shutting-down-their-u-s-factory-and/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [It's so Canada. On some level, you laugh, but on another level, it's just depressing. We pride ourselves: We're not like the bad old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-backhouse/it-s-so-canada-on-some-level-you-laugh-but-on-another-level-it-s-just/) [Constance Backhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-backhouse/) > [The movement across Canada to fight toxic chemicals is a women's movement. It's a concern about health; it's very intimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-may/the-movement-across-canada-to-fight-toxic-chemicals-is-a-women-s/) [Elizabeth May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-may/) > [I grew up working in Canada so everything was low budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-page/i-grew-up-working-in-canada-so-everything-was-low-budget/) [Ellen Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-page/) [Browse all 1,873 Canada quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canada/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When it [NAFTA] was sold, we were supposed to get two or three times more exports to Canada or Mexico than they exported to us. It's been the exact opposite.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Collin Peterson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/when-it-nafta-was-sold-we-were-supposed-to-get-two-or-three-times/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Canada" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/when-it-nafta-was-sold-we-were-supposed-to-get-two-or-three-times/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/collin-peterson-19338_canada_when-it-nafta-was-sold-we-were-supposed_2145190.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/collin-peterson-19338_canada_when-it-nafta-was-sold-we-were-supposed_2145190.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/782/collin-peterson-19338_canada_when-it-nafta-was-sold-we-were-supposed_2145190.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When it [NAFTA] was sold, we were supposed to get two or three times more exports to Canada or Mexico than…” — Collin Peterson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Collin Peterson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/collin-peterson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When it [NAFTA] was sold, we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/when-it-nafta-was-sold-we-were-supposed-to-get-two-or-three-times/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/collin-peterson/when-it-nafta-was-sold-we-were-supposed-to-get-two-or-three-times/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```