Trump launches NAFTA renegotiation
Source: Politico
By MEGAN CASSELLA 05/18/2017 11:26 AM EDT
The Trump administration formally began its long-promised renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement on Thursday, sending Congress a letter that starts the clock on a 90-day waiting period before U.S. negotiators can sit down with their counterparts from Canada and Mexico.
The letter, signed by newly minted U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, outlines the administration's goal of modernizing the pact and pledges to work "closely and transparently" with Congress throughout the process.
Lighthizer noted that the administration's primary goal will be to update the 23-year-old agreement, including by adding provisions on digital trade, intellectual property rights and labor and environmental standards, which he called "an afterthought in NAFTA."
The letter does not detail specific negotiating objectives. Those aren't due to Congress until 30 days before the start of talks. It notes an interest in adding stronger enforcement provisions. But the lack of specifics is notable, because the White House sent a more detailed eight-page draft notice to Capitol Hill in late March that included what the administration was looking for in nearly 20 different areas.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/18/trump-administration-formally-kicks-off-renegotiation-of-nafta-238552
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