The final text of the proposed North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed by the Heads of the three member states (United States, Canada and Mexico) on December 17, 1992. After ratification by the U.S. Congress, the agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. The Glossary of NAFTA Terms elucidates and clarifies a large number of commonly used acronyms, abbreviations and terms found in the trade pact, a 2,000 page document together with side agreements on environmental and labor rules. Because of the hemispheric implications of the agreement, reference is made to all trade agreements, common markets, free trade arrangements prevailing today in the Caribbean, Central America and throughout South America. The Glossary of NAFTA Terms is an indispensable reference work for diplomats, journalists, international and national civil servants, businessmen, researchers and students that take a deep interest not only in the North American region, but indeed in the future growth of the entire Western hemisphere.