“The administration should reject fears of supply-chain disruption asserted by the import lobby,” said Michael Stumo, chief executive of the Coalition for a Prosperous America. “Successful trading nations like China and Germany ‘disrupt supply chains’ intentionally, working to increase their domestic supply chains at the expense of foreign suppliers.”
[Sara Schaefer Muñoz and Bob Davis | August 20, 2017 | Fox Business]
WASHINGTON – Opening-round talks to remake the North American Free Trade Agreement revealed early fissures dividing the U.S. from Mexico and Canada, including a Trump administration proposal to require a “substantial” portion of autos and auto parts produced under the pact be made in the U.S.
The renegotiation of the trade deal, which was one of President Donald Trump’s main campaign promises and a key pillar of his “America First” agenda aiming to revive U.S. manufacturing and reduce the country’s trade deficit, is likely to face many hurdles. Auto makers in all three nations oppose the stricter rules floated by the U.S. negotiator, and pro-business lawmakers in Congress don’t want to see the pact significantly altered.
In the first-round talks, which concluded Sunday, the three countries said in a trilateral statement they had made “detailed conceptual presentations” of their positions and were working toward “an ambitious outcome” through a fast-paced schedule of negotiations.
