Tuesday, March 6, 2018

This is How Much "Progress" Has Been Made in NAFTA Talks

Robert Lighthizer, anti-trade U.S. Trade Representative
Yesterday marked the end of the seventh round of NAFTA talks, with just 3 of 30 chapters (negotiation topics) closed this round. Only 6 chapters in total have been closed across the seven rounds of talks.

According to Axios, the anti-trade U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer says that time might be running out to get a NAFTA deal on the books, with elections coming up this year in all three countries. Most significantly, the campaign for Mexico’s July presidential election will kick off in a few weeks.

The tone at the close of the seventh round (via Axios):
  • USTR Lighthizer: “We have not made the progress that many had hoped in this round.”
  • Canada’s Foreign Minister, Chrystia Freeland: "Canada would view any trade restrictions on Canadian steel and aluminum as absolutely unacceptable.”
  • Mexico’s Economy Minister Ildefonso Guahjardo said negotiations aren’t moving fast enough, per Reuters.

2 comments:

  1. What ought to happen is for the U.S. government to dispense with all trade treaties, and simply remove itself from the issue altogether, allowing American citizens to trade with whomever they wish without government imposed costs or restrictions.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, but Trumpistas want you to sacrifice your hard-won income to the god of American Made. Screw liberty!

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