The trade agreement, designed to expand free trade within the region, is separated into four stages, including 15 successive years of declining tariffs between the member nations. At the same time, NAFTA will also increase trade barriers on imports from nonmember nations.
協定分四階段、十五年陸續降低會員國之間的關稅，以促進區域內的貿易自由化；相對的，將增加非會員國輸入的貿易障礙。