There’s no such thing as a free lunch. For trade compliance managers, there’s no such thing as a truly free trade, either.
In the case of the North American Free Trade Agreement, the greatest cost comes in maintaining records showing that products qualify for NAFTA’s preferential tariff treatment. Compliance is enforced by the customs services of the three signatory nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. When they decide to audit, they generally start by asking to review certificates and supporting documents showing where claimed products originated.
