US and Mexican political deadlines are creating pressure to reach a quick outcome to next month’s talks to rework North America’s regional free trade pact, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Tuesday. The United States, Canada and Mexico are due to begin talks on August 16 to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), with … Read more
Negotiations on reworking North America’s landmark free trade pact will begin next month in Washington, US officials announced Wednesday. The announcement comes after American officials this week laid out a bargaining position with a heavy emphasis on reducing bilateral trade deficits with Mexico and Canada while pressing Ottawa and Mexico City for other important trade … Read more
The United States on Monday said it would work to shrink trade deficits with Canada and Mexico in talks to renegotiate the landmark 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The Trump administration has focused on boosting domestic manufacturing while cutting trade deficits — which it sees as damaging to the economy — a move … Read more
With talks to begin in August to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, dozens of industry, agriculture, labor and economic officials offered their views to the Trump administration on Tuesday. The US Trade Representative opened three days of public hearings that were sure to feature many conflicting views on the 23-year-old trade pact. Industry … Read more
US President Donald Trump’s administration formally notified Congress on Wednesday of its intent to renegotiate the three-nation North American Free Trade Agreement. The talks with Canada and Mexico will begin “no earlier than August 16, 2017,” US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement. During the 90-day countdown, USTR will consult with “Congress and … Read more
The Trump administration will enforce trade rules more aggressively than any previous government in its efforts to reduce the trade deficit, but does not seek a dispute, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Tuesday. Ross also said he hopes this week to resolve delays in Congress that will allow the White House to give formal notification … Read more
The US government doesn’t have a clear idea of what NAFTA covers, a business body representing several big North American multinationals said on Tuesday after Washington picked a trade fight with Canada. The Canadian American Business Council took umbrage at a comment by US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross that NAFTA wasn’t “functioning properly,” allegedly because … Read more
The Trump administration will launch the formal process to renegotiate the US trade agreement with Mexico and Canada “in the next couple of weeks,” Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Friday. Before reopening the North American Free Trade Agreement — which President Donald Trump has slammed as a bad deal for the United States — or … Read more
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday that the whole world benefited from a strong European Union and that the bloc and his country needed to lead the international economy in challenging times. Trudeau told the European Parliament that the Union was an unprecedented model for peaceful cooperation in a speech that marked his … Read more
When billionaire investor Wilbur Ross salvaged two North Carolina textile mills from bankruptcy in 2003 and 2004, one of the first things he did was head to Washington to immerse himself in trade law and policy. China’s accession to the World Trade Organization had unleashed a flood of textile imports across U. S. borders, and … Read more
The European Union and Canada signed a free trade agreement on Sunday that aims to generate jobs and growth though it must still clear some 40 national and regional parliaments in Europe in the coming years to enter fully into force. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed the treaty along with the heads of EU … Read more
The European Union and Canada have signed a long-delayed landmark trade deal, following weeks of uncertainty due to opposition in Belgium. The deal was signed in Brussels by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and top EU officials. The signing ceremony initially planned for Thursday had been cancelled after Belgium’s Wallonia region vetoed the agreement. All … Read more
Canada and the European Union say they remain hopeful a landmark free trade deal can go ahead despite three Belgian regions led by Wallonia blocking it. European Council President Donald Tusk said it was still possible Ceta could be signed as planned and Canada’s trade minister said the deal was “not dead”. But Belgium has … Read more
Belgium cannot sign a key EU trade deal with Canada, Prime Minister Charles Michel says, because of objections from one of its regions, Wallonia. His statement appeared to dash hopes the Ceta deal could be signed by EU leaders and Canada on Thursday. “We are not in a position to sign Ceta,” Mr Michel said … Read more
Emergency talks are under way in Brussels in an effort to save an EU free trade deal with Canada (Ceta), blocked by a Belgian region. European Parliament head Martin Schulz is to hold separate talks with Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and the head of Belgium’s Wallonia region. Ms. Freeland abandoned talks on Friday, after … Read more
The European Parliament president has called for emergency meetings to try to save a free trade deal with Canada. Martin Schulz asked for separate talks with Canadian Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland and Paul Magnette, the head of Wallonia in Belgium, which has blocked a deal on the Ceta agreement. Mr Magnette is seeking clarity on … Read more