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| - As ratification of the US, Canada and Mexico trade agreement nears completion, a timeline of developments since the 1994 deal it replaced was born. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the three countries came into force on January 1, 1994, as one of the most important trade pacts in the world. It removed most tariffs on goods traded between them, liberalized investment rules and allowed greater movement of workers between the countries. Trump came to office in 2017 demanding an overhaul of the "terrible" NAFTA deal, which he blamed for an exodus of manufacturing jobs to Mexico. Complicated talks were launched in August 2017. In May 2018, amid a delay in NAFTA negotiations, Washington extended punitive tariffs on steel and aluminum to Canada and Mexico. They complained to the World Trade Organization (WTO). On June 5, Mexico published a list of American products on which it would impose retaliatory tariffs, including pork, whiskey, cheese, apples and grapes. Canada on June 29 also announced taxes on US steel and aluminum, whiskey, ketchup, orange juice, sailing ships, and lawnmowers. Washington protested the retaliatory measures at the WTO. On August 27, 2018, Trump announced a draft new trade accord with Mexico, which still did not cover Canada. Negotiations with Canada were finalized on October 1. On November 30, the three signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) treaty. The text remained to be ratified by the three national parliaments. On May 17, Trump ended the tariffs on Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum, lifting an important obstacle to ratification. Trump rankled his partners when he imposed from June 10 tariffs on Mexican goods in a bid to force the country to stem the influx of illegal migrants and drugs. He lifted the measure after the announcement on June 7 of an accord on immigration. A new draft is signed on December 10 in Mexico by representatives of the governments of the US, Canada and Mexico, after Democrats, who are in a majority in the US House of Representatives, force amendments. Mexico's parliament ratifies the amended text. On January 16, 2020, the accord is approved by the US Congress. On January 28, the government of Justin Trudeau launches the ratification process in Canada, calling on the opposition to quickly endorse it. A day later, Trump signs USMCA into law. ang-acm/jmy/jm
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