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The Long and Short of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement

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  • Daniel Trefler

Abstract

The Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) provides a unique windowonto the effects of a reciprocal trade agreement on an industrializedeconomy (Canada). For industries that experienced the deepest Canadiantariff cuts, employment fell by 12 percent and labour productivity rose by 15percent as low-productivity plants contracted. For industries that receivedthe largest U.S. tariff cuts, there were no employment gains, but plant-levellabour productivity soared by 14 percent. These results highlight the conflictbetween those who bore the short-run adjustment costs (displaced workersand struggling plants) and those who are garnering the long-run gains(consumers and efficient plants). Finally, a simple welfare analysis providesevidence of aggregate welfare gains.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Trefler, 2006. "The Long and Short of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement," STICERD - Economics of Industry Papers 41, Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:stieip:41
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