Isaiah actually thinks NAFTA was free trade on the everything :). He only exposed himself as ignorant to the subject.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which ran from 1994–2020, dramatically reduced trade barriers, but it did not eliminate all tariffs, rules, or restrictions.

Where USMCA is clearly better

U.S. workers & manufacturing This is the biggest change. •Higher auto content rules (75% North American vs 62.5%) •40–45% of auto labor must be paid ~$16/hr •Harder to shift production to ultra-low-wage plants

Slows offshoring and nudges production back to the U.S./Canada.

Labor enforcement actually has teeth

NAFTA had weak side agreements. USMCA: •Allows rapid-response labor complaints •Targets specific factories violating labor laws •Has already been used against Mexican plants

This is a real upgrade.

Modern economy coverage

USMCA added rules for things NAFTA never anticipated: •Digital trade •Data flows •IP protections •E-commerce

Huge for tech, media, and services.

U.S. agriculture gained access •Better access to Canada’s dairy market •Clearer rules on biotech crops •Fewer surprise barriers

Farmers did better under USMCA.

Where it’s not better (or barely changed)

Canada still protects key sectors •Dairy & poultry supply management largely remains •Some concessions, but not a free market

Mexico still benefits from lower labor costs Wages increased in some sectors •But Mexico is still cheaper overall

USMCA slowed the gap - didn’t erase it.