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Which Mexican cities became important links for duty-free trade with the United States under NAFTA?
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North American Free Trade Agreement
(From left) Mexican Pres. Carlos Salinas de Gortari, U.S. Pres. George H.W. Bush, and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney meeting to initial the North American Free Trade Agreement in San Antonio, Texas, October 7, 1992.
Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the expansion of maquiladoras—export-oriented assembly plants—facilitated a significant increase in duty-free trade between Mexico and the United States. This economic shift led to rapid industrial growth in several major Mexican cities that served as vital links to the U.S. border.123
Key cities that became important hubs for this trade include:
- Tijuana: A major center for electronics assembly, including television and computer components.42
- Juárez: A critical manufacturing site for data-processing machines, electrical cables, and medical instruments, as well as textiles.43
- Mexicali: A key node in the border zone for the flow of duty-free goods.23
- Hermosillo: An important site for automobile assembly.42
- Monterrey: A major industrial city linked to the border for trade.2
- Nuevo Laredo: A significant border city that experienced marked growth due to maquiladora incentives.3