The letter also calls for leveling the playing field in tax treatment, expanding opportunities for agriculture and strengthening rules of origin that favor the U.S. economy. It also mentions public procurement as Trump promotes his “Buy American” policy for infrastructure.
Approach to Congress
Trump is preparing to trigger a renegotiation of Nafta. The president must consult with Congress before issuing a formal 90-day notice of his intent to revisit the deal, but the administration so far has been vague about what the U.S. will seek from Mexico and Canada in the talks.
Mexico announced on Feb. 1 the start of its own consultations on Nafta, which created one of the world’s largest free-trade zones. The Mexican government will hold talks with businesses and other stakeholders, its government said.
The approaching negotiations come at a tense time between the U.S. and Mexico, whose president, Enrique Pena Nieto, canceled a visit to Washington in January after Trump doubled down on promises to make the country pay for a border wall.
Any of the three countries can withdraw from Nafta on six-months’ notice. Trump has said he would pull out if his counterparts aren’t willing to renegotiate it.
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.