The world was different 38 years ago.. NAFTA wasn’t supposed to be a way for the rest of the world to dump on the US/Can/Mex as demonstrated by the tariffs and trade “deals” mentioned.. it was to bring manufacturing back to the US. In the 1970’s Japans Yen was undervalued and it allowed their high quality goods to compete with cheapened US goods.
The US was at a severe disadvantage in textile and clothing , electronics , and steel.
In the 1970’s Mexico’s only export was Tequila, avacados and a minor amount of oil. Now they are a direct competitor as our EPA OSHA and regulations from other agencies have made them the “go to” destination within NAFTA to build plants that are far cheaper than here in the US. Mexico has done nothing to help themselves, it’s all spillover from the US.
Regulations are problem but the real magnet are the dirt cheap wages. $3.00/hr for Paco vs. $20.00/hr for Pete. If you don’t agree with me you sir are in denial.