Mar 21, 2017

03/21/2017: The unintended consequences of NAFTA

Corn cobs are displayed for sale along with other vegetables in a market in Mexico City. OMAR TORRES/AFP/Getty Images

It's NAFTA week here, so today we're heading to the Midwest. The trade deal opened up the Mexican market to American farmers, who enjoyed billions in exports. But Mexican farmers couldn't compete, and many of them immigrated to the U.S. illegally after going out of business. Then: We'll talk with the American and Canadian architects of NAFTA about how they negotiated the agreement in the first place. Plus, we'll unpack the latest travel restriction's impact on business travelers and look ahead to the House's big health care vote.

Segments From this episode

NAFTA Explained

What a baseball game has to do with the NAFTA negotiations

by Kai Ryssdal and Bridget Bodnar

Mar 21, 2017

Carla Hills of the U.S. and Michael Wilson of Canada helped broker what Hills calls the 'premier trade agreement for its time.'

“Thirty-five states in the United States have as their No. 1 export market Canada. Nine million jobs in the United States are dependent on that trade relationship,” said Michael Wilson. He was the minister of trade when he participated in the NAFTA negotiations.

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

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What would Medicaid work requirements mean for those who receive it?

by Dan Gorenstein

Mar 21, 2017

On Thursday night, the House is expected to vote on a bill to repeal Obamacare. The only hurdle is Republicans themselves. House leaders are desperate to get enough conservatives on board to get the bill to the Senate, so last night they made some changes to it. One sweetener: letting states add work requirements to […]

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'The world's most important number' and the man who manipulated it

by Kai Ryssdal

Mar 21, 2017

LIBOR is the interest rate that sets other interest rates. 'The Spider Network' tells how a British banker nudged it to make a lot of money.

Matt Cardy/Getty Images

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The latest travel ban targets electronic devices

by Reema Khrais

Mar 21, 2017

Smartphones will be the only devices allowed on the plane on certain flights.

An officer from the Transportation Security Administration checks documents for travelers at Reagan National Airport in Virginia.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

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NAFTA Explained

NAFTA helped U.S. corn farmers, but may have boosted illegal immigration

by Annie Baxter

Mar 21, 2017

The U.S. produce became cheap and plentiful in Mexico, hurting millions of farmers and leading some to cross the border.

Corn cobs are displayed for sale along with other vegetables in a market in Mexico City.

OMAR TORRES/AFP/Getty Images

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It’s NAFTA week here, so today we’re heading to the Midwest. The trade deal opened up the Mexican market to American farmers, who enjoyed billions in exports. But Mexican farmers couldn’t compete, and many of them immigrated to the U.S. illegally after going out of business. Then: We’ll talk with the American and Canadian architects of NAFTA about how they negotiated the agreement in the first place. Plus, we’ll unpack the latest travel restriction’s impact on business travelers and look ahead to the House’s big health care vote.