During the period when the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was being negotiated, Mexico strengthened its environmental policies and practices. However, questions continue about whether the environmental improvements seen between 1990 and 1993 were diminished, maintained, or strengthened once NAFTA came into effect in 1994. This article examines available evidence for the years 1994 through 1998 on four criteria that address these questions. Taking into account significant economic and political events that influenced environmental policy and practice, the authors find that in the first 5 years of NAFTA, Mexico's environmental policy has been further improved, environmental enforcement was initially maintained but may have declined recently, business behavior has been improving, but information on environmental quality is mixed or not available for public scrutiny.
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