CALGARY, AB July 17, 2017 – The Trump administration is set to reveal today what it wants to change in NAFTA during upcoming negotiations, when the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative releases its negotiating objectives.

Canada West Foundation trade and bilateral relations expert Carlo Dade, director of the Trade & Investment Centre, is available to comment on what the NAFTA list means for Canada, including:  

• Despite the hand-wringing over the volatility of President Trump, according to Article 1, section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress, not Trump sets trade negotiating priorities, and Congress, not Trump, will determine the fate of NAFTA.

• The Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) process is the most critical element of the negotiation. This is how the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees set negotiating priorities and give negotiating instructions to the administration. This is not a “one and done” process – these committees will constantly be looking over the administration’s shoulder and reviewing progress during the negotiations.

• The TPA mandates specific timelines for action. These timelines interact with elections in the U.S. and Mexico, introducing domestic political influences that will significantly affect negotiations in Mexico and the U.S. but not in Canada.

• Dairy will be a key issue for Canada in NAFTA talks. New polling shows that Canadians are willing to put dairy and supply management on the table in exchange for concessions in other areas.


Background:

TIMELINE: NAFTA negotiations

If push comes to shove, Canadians will abandon supply management, by Carlo Dade and Andrew Enns. iPolitics. July 7, 2017

Supply management survey background, NRG Research Group

Testimony to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, Carlo Dade. May 18, 2017.