Case 190 - Thinking Locally, Acting Globally: Congressman Jim Walsh and the NAFTA Vote

Lovely, Mary E.

This case study examines the international, national, and local implications of the North American Free Trade Agreement. It outlines the key provisions of NAFTA and describes the public’s concerns about the agreement’s effects on U.S. employment and wages. Focusing on New York State Representative Jim Walsh, the study illustrates how local politics and local concerns influenced the national vote. It can be used to generate discussion of dislocations from, and adjustments to, trade liberalization, and how those considerations affect legislators’ positions.