The History of NAFTA and the Gaza Strip

The term NAFTA means North American Free TradeTrade between the countries was encouraged and
Agreement which facilitates trade between Unitedcapital for foreign investors increased.
States, Canada and Mexico. On the other there is aThe continuous war in Gaza has destroyed its
small place which is strangled in terms of economy; iteconomy. Although the population was mostly
is known as the Gaza strip. It is an alarming situationEgyptian before the Israeli occupation of Gaza, many
to know how a small piece of land has grabbed thePalestinians were forced to flee Israeli occupied lands
attention of the world. It has become the source ofand settle in the Gaza Strip due to the fighting
grief and fear for many people.between Arabs and Jews.
The NAFTA started with President Ronald ReaganThe Egypt Peace Treaty of 1979 had settled the
who made efforts for creating a united Northinternational border between the Gaza Strip and
American Market. Its basic aim is to promoteEgypt. However the status of Gaza Strip and other
economic growth by easy movement of goods andrelations between Israel and Palestinians were not
services between the three countries.dealt with in the treaty.
The history of Gaza strip is filled with bloodshed andThe US and Mexico have benefited from NAFTA in
violence. Hamas which is known as the Islamicregarding agriculture. Because of this agreement, the
Resistance Movement currently controls the strip. ItU.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico have
won the elections in 2006 and formed thegrown drastically.
democratic government. After gaining power, theyA disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip was
violently removed the Palestinian Authority's securityagreed by Israeli government in 2005. All Israeli
forces and civil servants from the Gaza Strip in 2007.settlements in Gaza and in the West Bank were
With the creation of NAFTA, the high tariffs fordismantled finally ending its Israeli military rule.
goods and services transported over the bordersJust like NAFTA made easy expansion of services
between the United States, Canada and Mexico wereremoving the trade barriers between the member
practically eliminated. This elimination also reduced thecountries. The economic powers of the world also
inflation which subsequently reduced the cost ofhave to play their role in easing the economic
imports. This also did not slow down the flow ofsufferings of the oppressed living in poor conditions
goods and services between the three countries.and shortage of basic necessities.