Credit for this article on NAFTA Renegotiations is given to Britton Clarke of the Border Trade Alliance in Washington, D.C.

August 21, 2017

NAFTA Renegotiations Underway in Washington

Representatives from the US, Canada and Mexico gathered in Washington on Wednesday-Sunday for the first round of NAFTA renegotiations.

USA

USTR Robert Lighthizer struck a pessimistic tone in his opening statement:

“But for countless Americans, this agreement has failed. 

“We cannot ignore the huge trade deficits, the lost manufacturing jobs, the businesses that have closed or moved because of incentives — intended or not — in the current agreement. 

“The numbers are clear. The U.S. Government has certified that at least 700,000 Americans have lost their jobs due to changing trade flows resulting from NAFTA. Many people believe that number is much, much bigger than that.”

The USTR mentioned the border regions in his opening statement, saying:

“I’ve always thought that communities along our borders have a particular equity in this agreement. In many cases their lives, businesses, and families are very much on both sides of the dividing line. They too are hardworking men and women trying to raise families and accumulate wealth. We must keep their interests paramount.”

The full USTR statement is here. 

CANADA 

Canada’s opening statement was provided by Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland. She responded to the issue of trade deficits:

“Canada does not view trade surpluses or deficits as a primary measure of whether a trading relationship works. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that our trade with the U.S. is balanced and mutually beneficial.”  

Regarding Canada’s priorities, Freeland said Canada’s priorities are to:

“…protect NAFTA’s record as an engine of job creation and economic growth,” [while modernizing the pact for business and making it more progressive] “particularly with regard to labor, the environment, gender and Indigenous rights.”  

MEXICO 

Mexico’s statement was delivered Minister of the Economy Ildefonso Guajardo.

He said he was looking for a “win, win, win for all three countries.”

“…to be successful, it has to work for all parties involved — otherwise, it’s not a deal.” 

WILSON CENTER ROUNDTABLE EXAMINES EACH COUNTRY’S PRIORITIES 

Before the negotiations got underway, BTA attended a meeting of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center. Panelists discussed both procedural and substantive aspects of the renegotiations.

Regarding the procedural points made, the negotiators plan to meet seven times by the end of the year. Each session is expected to take five days. The goal is to finish NAFTA renegotiations by the end of the year. It is anticipated that the negotiations, although trilateral, will have a strong emphasis on trade between the US and Mexico.

Following the conference, the Wilson Center held an invitation only roundtable. We had a seat at the table. One of the main themes of the roundtable was that there is a perception that Members of Congress, who will likely have to approve the trade agreement if it is comprehensive as indicated, are unaware of the beneficial impact NAFTA has contributed to the US. economy. Specifically, there was a perception that non-border state delegations do not appreciate the impact to their home states and constituents. However, we and others at the table emphasized that efforts to educate non-border state delegations have reaped benefits. But all agreed that we have work to do going forward to educate Capitol Hill on the benefits of NAFTA.

As a side note, Ambassador Wayne again acknowledged BTA for our USTR comments (mentioned here in this Union-Tribune column he authored). We have heard from other stakeholders that the BTA’s USTR comments were “spot on,” and we have been encouraged to keep up the good work.   

BTA GOES GLOBAL IN REACTION TO KICK-OFF OF NEGOTIATIONS 

BTA member Werner Enterprise’s President and CEO, Derek Leathers, did a live TV interview on CNBC that focused on NAFTA and its importance to the US economy. We provided Derek with talking points prior to the interview, several of which he was able to incorporate into his statements into the limited time available during the interview. A “Thank You” to Derek for carrying the Pro NAFTA banner.

Many thanks to Sam Vale who stepped in to do a TV interview with China Global TV regarding the start of negotiations on Global Business.

Sam discussed what Mexico is looking to get from the negotiations and how it should approach the US administration’s first trade negotiation.

UPS HOSTS TRADE AGREEMENTS WEBINAR: AUGUST 30  

Our friend Maria Luisa Boyce at UPS is conducting a free Spanish-language webinar on NAFTA and other trade agreements’ impact on business on Aug. 30. The session will feature special guest Sergio Garcia Gomez of the Mexico’s Secretary of the Economy office at the Mexican Embassy in Washington. I’ve attached more information, but you can register here.

WHITE HOUSE ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER ON INFRASTRUCTURE ENVIRO REVIEWS, PERMITTING

I’ve attached an Executive Order entitled “Presidential Executive Order on Establishing Discipline and Accountability in the Environmental Review and Permitting Process for Infrastructure.” Consistent with administration’s desire to reduce regulations that slow infrastructure development, the EO states that is the federal government’s policy to:

  • conduct environmental reviews and authorization processes in a coordinated, consistent, predictable, and timely manner in order to give public and private investors the confidence necessary to make funding decisions for new infrastructure projects;
  • speak with a coordinated voice when conducting environmental reviews and making authorization decisions; and
  • make timely decisions with the goal of completing all Federal environmental reviews and authorization decisions for major infrastructure projects within 2 years.

Britton Clarke
President

Border Trade Alliance
601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Suite 1503
Washington, DC 20004
Direct Dial- 202-302-6225
BrittonClarke@Clarke.Consulting

NAFTA Renegotiations is an important subject to companies currently doing business with and in Mexico and Canada.  We will be continuing to publish key articles, with author’s permission, here in the blog https://www.tecma.com