The Trump administration has a target for beginning the renegotiation of NAFTA — mid-August — but there is no deadline for wrapping up discussions, assuming that talks are fruitful, said U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. “We’re going to get a good agreement, one that is transformative,” Lighthizer told the Senate Finance Committee.
Responding to a question from Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, Lightnizer brushed aside reports that the administration wants to complete tri-national negotiations by the end of this year, a remarkably short time for a free trade agreement affecting half-a-billion consumers and two of the largest U.S. trading partners. Canada and Mexico account for one-third of U.S. agricultural trade. “From my point of view, I don’t have any deadline,” Lighthizer said, adding, “We don’t have any artificial deadline.”
Talks could begin as early as Aug. 17, and “that is our intention,” said Lighthizer, based on the White House announcement May 18 of renegotiations and the required 90-day consultation period with Congress and the public.
In a nine-page statement, Lighthizer said he will work closely with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to expand food and ag exports. “Thus far, USTR has made progress with respect to China, Argentina and Vietnam,” he said. The administration is pursuing WTO challenges filed by the Obama White House that accuse China of blocking U.S. grain imports and unfairly subsidizing Chinese grain farmers.
To watch a video of the hearing or to read written statements by Lighthizer, Hatch and Wyden, click here.