President Trump told Republican senators in private on Tuesday he believes the U.S. must trigger a withdrawal from NAFTA to move Canada and Mexico to negotiate more seriously, adding that they should “trust” him to get a better deal, multiple senators told Inside U.S. Trade.
[Jenny Leonard | October 25, 2017 | Inside US Trade]
“The president said there was no way to get the changes we need unless we get out, then have six months to negotiate,” said one GOP senator who strongly backs NAFTA.
The senator said Trump, during a luncheon with GOP senators, didn’t specify what he believed the administration would be able to win in terms of concessions from Mexico and Canada, adding, “I don’t think they know.”
The only specific goal the president mentioned, the senator said, was reducing the trade deficit with Mexico. “He’s obsessed with the trade deficit,” the senator said.
