The fifth round of negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) got off to a slow start and continue to move slowly this week. A source tells CBC dot com that negotiators have talked through a dozen topics but there hasn’t been much movement. However, that same source also says while progress has been slow, there haven’t been …
NAFTA Negotiators Focusing on Cars and Finances
Agriculture will not be a big focus in the current round of talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Bloomberg says negotiators will focus this round on regional content rules for products like cars, as well as financial services. One of the most contentious proposals from the U.S. deals with rules-of-origin for cars. Those rules determine how much …
U.S. Chamber Says NAFTA Withdrawal Will Hurt States
Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Texas, and Missouri could all suffer the most severe hits to their economies if President Trump decides to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Politico says the U.S. Chamber of Commerce listed 12 states that it says will be hit hardest by NAFTA withdrawal. John Murphy, senior vice president of international policy …
Senator Urging Farmers to Stand Up for NAFTA
Republican Senator Jerry Moran penned an open letter to farmers and ranchers this week asking them to “do more” regarding concerns surrounding the North American Free Trade Agreement. The letter urges farmers, farm groups, and others, to “raise their concerns” with President Trump. He challenged the industry to do so via op-eds, letters, social media campaigns, and other venues about …
Ag Coalition Stressing Importance of NAFTA
A coalition of agriculture groups is stressing the importance of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to state governors. The coalition representing more than 100 agriculture groups is asking the governors to let President Trump know that they “support a modernized NAFTA that maintains and enhances food and agricultural trade,” according to the Hagstrom Report. The letter comes as …
Slight Majority of Americans Favor NAFTA
New findings from the Pew Research Center show 56 percent of Americans believe the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is good for the United States. Just one-third, 33 percent, of respondents to a Pew Research poll say the trade deal is bad for the United States. The study surveyed more than 1,500 adults at the end of October as …
Ross Alleges Special Interest, Like Agriculture, Making NAFTA Talks Harder
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross pointed a finger at special interest groups, including those in agriculture, as reason for hiccups in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation. Ross earlier this week said the U.S. will “continue to take a hard line” on its proposals as talks get under way in Mexico City. Speaking at an event Tuesday, Ross said …
Congress Wants Input on NAFTA Withdraw, if it Happens
There are concerns that President Trump may pull the United States out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Wisconsin Third District Congressman Ron Kind says if that would happen, it would be the first time the U.S. has pulled out of a signed agreement. Kind believes that before a withdrawal happens, Congress should have some input on pulling …
McKinney Visit to India Good for U.S. Pork
The National Pork Producers Council says the recent trip to India by Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Affairs Ted McKinney bodes well for future pork exports. The trip, aimed at increasing U.S. agricultural export levels for India, allowed McKinney to press the nation to open access to U.S. pork. NPPC has been working for many years to …
NAFTA Talks Again Underway
Round five of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) talks are set to begin Friday (11/17/2017) in Mexico City. However, Politico points out that talks will unofficially begin Wednesday (11/14/2017). Much of the two-day prelude to the official talks are expected to focus on textiles, labor, cross-border trade and intellectual property. There’s little expectation of talks regarding agriculture, at …