North American Free Trade Agreement eliminated tariffs between U.S., Canada, and Mexico, accelerating maquiladora factory growth along border where low-wage assembly served export markets. NAFTA integrated Mexican economy into continental supply chains while displacing small farmers unable to compete with subsidized U.S. corn imports. Trade liberalization produced uneven development benefiting corporations and consumers while harming vulnerable workers and peasants.

Border poets like Gloria Anzaldúa and Natalia Treviño explored bicultural identities shaped by economic asymmetries and labor migration patterns. Testimonio literature documented maquiladora workers' exploitation and resistance, giving voice to women whose bodies bore costs of free trade. NAFTA debates infused Chicano poetry with economic analysis linking cultural hybridity to neoliberal restructuring.