A proposal for a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is now before the peoples of the United States, Canada and Mexico. Furthermore, it is likely that 108 nations or more will soon consider a new proposal for a General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). A major argument advanced in favor of these agreements is that they will generate export led growth that will benefit the peoples of all nations involved. Yet the process of economic integration which these proposals will greatly extend has been underway for some time.

Throughout the decade of the 1980's there has been a global reduction in tariffs and in barriers to foreign investment. Economic integration between the U.S. and Mexico during this period has greatly accelerated. Since 1982 exports from the U.S. to Mexico have increased by 105% while Mexico's exports to the U.S. (excluding maquiladora industries) increased by 70%. Furthermore 42% of the exports from Mexico to the U.S. were produced by the affiliates of U.S. based corporations. Between 1987 and 1991 the State of Illinois increased its exports to Mexico by 291%. These exports were valued at $1.1 billion, ranking Illinois fourth among states in the U.S.