Who is in NAFTA? That’s a question governments had to answer in the beginning.

NAFTA is comprised of all three countries within North America: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Thus, for all intents and purposes, the members of NAFTA include the federal government of each respective country, as well as each province within Canada (in order to accommodate labor provisions under the agreement). Specifically, the Department of Commerce (International Trade Administration – this applies to all three countries), the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of State, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (who is currently Ambassador Ron Kirk) monitor trade dealings within the United States. Alternately, the primary organization specific to NAFTA that is not a component of one of its member counties is known as the NAFTA Secretariat. The Secretariat is a panel that conducts dispute settlement, and follows the procedures described under the explanation of NAFTA’s rules.

Other Organizations Involved in NAFTA Include:

• The Free Trade Commission – comprised of representatives of each North American nation
• NAFTA Coordinators – senior trade coordinators designated by each North American nation
• NAFTA Working Groups and Committees – roughly 30 organizations accumulated to oversee and facilitated trade and investment between North American nations
• Commission for Labor Cooperation – promotes labor cooperation among North American nations
• Commission for Environmental Cooperation – promotes environmental cooperation among North American nations.