Canada – NAFTA: From a Free Trade Zone to the Real Integration

Behaviour of Canadian, the US and Mexican economies integration within the framework of the NAFTA is discussed. This integration has led to qualitative shift in relations between Canada and the countries members of the NAFTA. The most evident success of the NAFTA is the accelerated development of two-way trade between Canada and the United States, formation of the common power market. As a result of the deep integration of the economies of these countries some cross border regions have been created. These are associated not with the national economy but with the common continental market.The realization of the agreement about the NAFTA creation gave Canada the possibility to improve its economic position; to intensify relations with the powerful economy of the USA; to get the open access to the Mexican market of commodities, services and investments; to improve the interest of foreign investors to Canada, simultaneously providing Canadians with large possibilities of investing into the economies of the countries members of the NAFTA; to enter to the market of Latin America countries.The openness of Canadian economy is confirmed by the fact that it is impossible to find in the whole world another example when the economy of one country would depend on the economy of some other country so much as it takes place in the relations between Canada and the USA.The Canadian economy to the great extent depends on the cyclic character of the economic development of the USA. This is supported by the following. The trade with the USA comprises near 80 % of Canadian overall volume of trade. The US capital governs in all key branches of the economy, except for the financial sphere and agriculture. The successive strengthening of the relations with the powerful US economy has resulted in the branch and regional structural reorganization of the national economy of Canada. Within the framework of the NAFTA it is necessary to notice the relations between the execution of the agreement about free trade and the development of the administrative and territorial entities of Canadian federation. Relations between some of the Canadian provinces with certain American states began to develop more intensive than with inner territories. These gave rise to strong regions in Canada or, as they are known in the West, countries regions.Six trade corridors that form "blood streams of Canadian economy" are discussed. Canadian mineral and raw complex is gradually brought under control of American transnational corporations. The stream of American direct investment to Canada has increased substantially. The realization of the agreement accelerated noticeably the regionalization process in Canada. One of the basic benefits of being a member of the NAFTA for Canada is the entrance to the Mexican market of commodities, services and investments