The North American Free Trade Agreement $($NAFTA$)$ was established in $1994.$

a$.$ What was the purpose of NAFTA?

b$.$ At the time, political opponents characterized "the big sucking sound" as jobs would

be lost as a result. Is there any evidence that this was, in fact, the case?

c$.$ Negotiations in $2018$ resulted in the US$-$Mexico$-$Canada Agreement $($USMCA$).$ What

factors contributed to replacing the $24-$year$-$old NAFTA agreement?