The document provides an insider's perspective on the status of NAFTA negotiations. While news reports suggest the agreement must be finalized by May 15th to be considered before elections, negotiations are ongoing with 300 delegates from the US, Canada, and Mexico working daily. They have currently completed discussions on chapter 8 of 22 total chapters. NAFTA will be more robust and aligned with current agreements when finalized, but the timeline will be based on completing negotiations, not political convenience.

1. NAFTA - THE REAL STORY
AN INSIDERS VIEW
Brought to you by Janel

2. • What is really happening with the NAFTA negotiations? If you listen to the
news or the tweet of the morning, unless the agreement was finalized by
May 15th it couldn’t be considered for adoption prior to the elections and
the US may just walk away.
• In a discussion on the Future of NAFTA with The Canadian Minister of
Public Services and Procurement, the view from the inside looks much more
positive. Let’s look at why:

3. The US exports more to Canada than to Japan, the EU and China
combined. The US has a trade surplus with Canada. Unlike what is
reported in the news, there are more high paying jobs with companies
involved in International trade, so the insider’s perspective is it would be
unwise to withdraw from NAFTA. The goal of NAFTA was to create a
large western hemisphere trading group, produce products
collaboratively and market them globally.
So what is actually happening? Where are we now?

4. • There are currently 300 delegates from the US , Canada and Mexico in
Washington DC working daily on the agreement.
• Presently, they are completing discussions on chapter 8. They have
22 more chapters to go, i.e. The agreement won’t be done before the
elections.
• Besides working on each level of tariff numbers and coming to an
agreement on rules of origin and eligibility qualifications, there are
the following considerations:

5. • Environmental impact
• Labor
• E-commerce
• Diversity
• Dispute resolution revisions
• Conclusion: NAFTA is moving forward. When finalized it will be more
robust and more in line with current Agreements, but it will only be
ready when it is ready and not when the politicians need it for political
convenience.
• For trade to be successful there must be rules and trust in those rules.

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