The Free Trade Agreement came into effect on January 1, 1989, beginning a 10-year process of eliminating protective tariffs on goods traded between Canada and the US.
The FTA was the culmination of Mulroney's promise during the 1984 election to work towards free trade and increased investment in Canada. By 1987, Simon Reisman, Canada's chief negotiator, had worked out a preliminary agreement. During the 1988 election, free trade was debated hotly. The Conservatives argued that it would create jobs and preserve living standards, while the Liberals and NDP argued that jobs would move to the US and Canadians would lose control over resources, social programs, and cultural industries.
