--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since its enforcement, NAFTA has been…" description: "\"Since its enforcement, NAFTA has been more than a trade agreement. It has made us think of ourselves as a region.\" — Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal_agreement_since-its-enforcement-nafta-has-been-mor_3098808.jpg" --- # Since its enforcement, NAFTA has been more than a trade… ![“Since its enforcement, NAFTA has been more than a trade agreement. It has made us think of ourselves as a region.” quote by Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal_agreement_since-its-enforcement-nafta-has-been-mor_3098808.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal_agreement_since-its-enforcement-nafta-has-been-mor_3098808.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal_agreement_since-its-enforcement-nafta-has-been-mor_3098808.jpg) > “Since its enforcement, NAFTA has been more than a trade agreement. It has made us think of ourselves as a region.” [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. NAFTA reshaped regional identity, making countries view themselves as part of a larger economic bloc. **In simple terms:** NAFTA changed how we see ourselves regionally. Key Takeaway Recognize economic interdependence. Themes regionalism trade identity Mood analytical reflective Type political economic When to use this quote - policy analysis - business strategy - education curricula Key Concepts economic integration political geography regional cooperation Questions to Reflect On - How does trade shape cultural identity? - What are the downsides of regional thinking? A Different Perspective Regional identity can clash with national sovereignty concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Enforcement Nafta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enforcement-nafta-5361518/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [NAFTA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nafta/) [Nafta Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nafta-trade-1123667/) [Ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ourselves/) [Think Region](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-region-5361519/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [Trade Agreement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade-agreement-262400/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [Specifically, the U.S. holds strength. Its own context makes it a very competitive country, but I believe that if we recognize how interdependent the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-pena-nieto/specifically-the-u-s-holds-strength-its-own-context-makes-it-a-very/) [Enrique Pena Nieto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-pena-nieto/) > [I think a lot of scapegoating has been done on NAFTA. The reality is, a lot of the jobs have been lost mostly to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-videgaray-caso/i-think-a-lot-of-scapegoating-has-been-done-on-nafta-the-reality-is-a/) [Luis Videgaray Caso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-videgaray-caso/) > [The trade agreement has become a rather distinct feature of the American labor movement. ... It is based on the idea that labor shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ritter-beard/the-trade-agreement-has-become-a-rather-distinct-feature-of-the/) [Mary Ritter Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ritter-beard/) > [It's very hard to find things that rhyme with North American Free Trade Agreement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-martin/it-s-very-hard-to-find-things-that-rhyme-with-north-american-free/) [Chris Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-martin/) > [There's a whole range of areas that we'll be looking at, so I'm not at this very early stage going to specify any particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-may/there-s-a-whole-range-of-areas-that-we-ll-be-looking-at-so-i-m-not-at/) [Theresa May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-may/) > [We were able to sign free trade agreement with Europe at a time when people tend to be closing off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/we-were-able-to-sign-free-trade-agreement-with-europe-at-a-time-when/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [What is gained by debt relief and aid can be lost if we don't get a proper trade agreement in Hong Kong,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/what-is-gained-by-debt-relief-and-aid-can-be-lost-if-we-don-t-get-a/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Now then, if we were to go the lowest road and plaster my face on the bottle of oil and vinegar dressing just to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/now-then-if-we-were-to-go-the-lowest-road-and-plaster-my-face-on-the/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [The trade agreement which I had the privilege of signing with your Prime Minister last autumn is tangible evidence of the desire of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-trade-agreement-which-i-had-the-privilege-of-signing-with-your/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [There is no one trade agreement in the world that has country-specific content. It doesn't exist. Content has to be measured regionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/there-is-no-one-trade-agreement-in-the-world-that-has-country/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [ When \[Bill\] Clinton came along, it sort of moderated a little bit, but Clinton had a different device for breaking unions called NAFTA \[North… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/when-bill-clinton-came-along-it-sort-of-moderated-a-little-bit-but/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I think Canadians, by and large, during the American election, every time Donald Trump talked about NAFTA, we felt that he was talking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-mercer/i-think-canadians-by-and-large-during-the-american-election-every/) [Rick Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-mercer/) > [We recognize that NAFTA is a three-country agreement, and we need a three-country negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrystia-freeland/we-recognize-that-nafta-is-a-three-country-agreement-and-we-need-a/) [Chrystia Freeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrystia-freeland/) > [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, 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/) ## More by Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal > [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/) > [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/) > [At the end of the day, we have to find a way to compete better with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/at-the-end-of-the-day-we-have-to-find-a-way-to-compete-better-with/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [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/) > [I do believe that as the country becomes more attractive in the manufacturing sector, salaries can improve, and opportunities can expand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/i-do-believe-that-as-the-country-becomes-more-attractive-in-the/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [We are fed up with complaints that Mexico is stealing jobs from U.S. manufacturing. We are part of the solution that has maintained competitiveness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/we-are-fed-up-with-complaints-that-mexico-is-stealing-jobs-from-u-s/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [The U.S. is a sovereign nation, and if the U.S. decides to build a wall on the southern border, it's their sovereign decision. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/the-u-s-is-a-sovereign-nation-and-if-the-u-s-decides-to-build-a-wall/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [We understand U.S. position, but we have to find a way to make trade translate into better jobs in North America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/we-understand-u-s-position-but-we-have-to-find-a-way-to-make-trade/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [Toyota has 10 plants in the United States... and employs more than 130,000 Americans. If I were Mr. Trump, I'd treat them with more respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/toyota-has-10-plants-in-the-united-states-and-employs-more-than-130/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [At the end of the day, we have obviously our own political realities that will not allow us to approve something that is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/at-the-end-of-the-day-we-have-obviously-our-own-political-realities/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [The next generation of entrepreneurs are already named Martinez or Sanchez.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/the-next-generation-of-entrepreneurs-are-already-named-martinez-or/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [Mexico's government has made a strong commitment to boosting the country's competitiveness in global trade, and the Ministry of Economy recognizes that trade facilitation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/mexico-s-government-has-made-a-strong-commitment-to-boosting-the/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [We can be a very natural partner as a support base for Ireland to use Mexico to enter into the North American and South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/we-can-be-a-very-natural-partner-as-a-support-base-for-ireland-to-use/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [A scenario without NAFTA is something we have to think about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/a-scenario-without-nafta-is-something-we-have-to-think-about/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) > [Free trade and economic stability do not, by themselves, guarantee success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/free-trade-and-economic-stability-do-not-by-themselves-guarantee/) [Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) [Explore all 49 Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ildefonso-guajardo-villarreal/) ## More Agreement quotes > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/) [Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/) > [In coming to that agreement, my party had a clear philosophy throughout. In Northern Ireland, we should have institutions that respected the differences of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hume/in-coming-to-that-agreement-my-party-had-a-clear-philosophy/) [John Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hume/) > [Identity is not negotiable. An identity you have achieved by agreement is always a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-john-harrison/identity-is-not-negotiable-an-identity-you-have-achieved-by-agreement/) [M. John Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-john-harrison/) > [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/) [Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/) > [Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/because-countries-often-have-differing-political-and-economic-systems/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Gaia's main problems are not industrialization, ozone depletion, overpopulation, or resource depletion. 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This was going to result in Iran getting 50 billion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/netanyahu-made-all-sorts-of-claims-this-was-going-to-be-a-terrible/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Browse all 1,138 Agreement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agreement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Since its enforcement, NAFTA has been more than a trade agreement. 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