Top trade officials from the United States, Canada and Mexico will resume negotiations over revisions to NAFTA this week in an effort to finalize an agreement. Reports indicate that while progress has been made, a number of issues remain, including rules of origin pertaining to automobiles, dispute settlement, government procurement and labor.
All parties agree that May will be a critical month in these renegotiations given upcoming events and important time lines. Mexico’s presidential election will occur in July 2018, and U.S. mid-term congressional elections will occur in November 2018. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has indicated a strong desire to conclude negotiations in May in order to seek approval from the current Congress under Trade Promotion Authority.
Trump and Trade has prepared a slide presentation, Summary of NAFTA’s History, Development and Current Status, for our readers as negotiations enter their final phase.