Rutilio Martinez

NAFTA Revisited: The Role of Business Educators

Abstract The initiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) by Canada, Mexico, and the United States in January 1994 represented an unparalleled opportunity for U.S. marketers. Since the inception of NAFTA, trade between the United States and Mexico, in particular, has grown significantly. Presented are (a) a brief review of the current status and projected future of NAFTA, (b) an examination of some important characteristics of Mexicos business culture and economy that are very similar to those of other Latin American countries but often overlooked in international business courses, (c) recommendations for changes and additions to programs that prepare students and/or executives for doing business in Mexico and in other Latin American countries, and (d) a description of an example of a developing NAFTA business center.