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Book Review: “Auto Pact: Creating a Borderless North American Auto Industry 1960-1971”

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Book Review: “Auto Pact: Creating a Borderless North American Auto Industry 1960-1971”
Book Review: “Auto Pact: Creating a Borderless North American Auto Industry 1960-1971”

Author: Dimitry Anastakis

Book Review

“Auto Pact: Creating a Borderless North American Auto Industry 1960~1971” by “Dimitry Anastakis” examines how the auto industry in US and Canada evolved through time before, during and after the implementation of the auto pact, from its development till the day it was obliterated by the WTO in 2001. The author uses an overwhelming number of sources such as interview, letters, statistics, secondary sources and more to illustrate his points, thus giving an extremely detailed perspective on the development of the auto industry in US and Canada between 1960~1971. The author also cle\arly lays out his plans of discussion in the introduction, and thereby making it easier for the reader to follow his discussion. Anastakis examined all aspects possible, investigating every aspect possible in detail, analysing the arguments for and against the auto pact. In the end Anastakis concludes that the auto pact could be regarded as “one of the most successful trade agreements in history” (171)

Before the implementation of the auto pact, the Canadian economy was shrivelling while that of their neighbours, the Americans thrived. This dramatic deterioration in the Canadian economy was mainly as a result of the auto industry. The Canadian auto industry resembled a “miniature replica of the US market” (25), except less efficient and can be described as devastating for the country’s economy. Canada later introduced the remission plan, to increase investment in the Canadian auto industry, but the US saw this as potentially dangerous to their economy and thus greatly objected to this idea. The auto pact was signed in January of 1965, which requires the US auto firms to achieve certain goals in Canada in order for them to enjoy the benefits of free trade, and results could be seen almost immediately, and

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