The role of subnational actors in North America during the NAFTA renegotiation

Abstract

This article analyzes the economic relations of subnational states in the United States with Mexico and Canada during the period of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) but also during the negotiation and ratification of the United States, Mexico, Canada Agreement (USMCA). The first part considers the theoretical debates on the international economic relations of subnational states, highlighting the economic paradiplomacy, as well as the endogenous and exogenous factors that encourage these processes. The second part examines such economic relations, particularly exports, imports and integrated supply chains from a subnational level, looking at the cross-border region in North America. The third part concentrates on the analysis and presents the main results and conclusions.

Keywords

• nafta
• usmca
• subnational governments
• paradiplomacy
• north america.