The Trump administration is pledging to complete its proposed renegotiation of NAFTA as quickly as possible, including by pushing for "a far more aggressive meeting schedule than has been the norm," according to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. The administration will “work to conclude the talks as soon as possible," Ross said at a State Department event. Noting that Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray has said he hopes to wrap up talks before the end of the year, Ross added: "Once we get going, I promise you this administration will not be a source of delay."Ross said he hopes this week to resolve delays in Congress that will allow the White House to give formal notification of the intent to renegotiate NAFTA with Canada and Mexico, which would start the 90-day clock before the talks could begin. The administration has not yet decided whether to keep NAFTA as a three-country deal "or to pursue two matching bilaterals," Ross said. NAFTA is "at best out of date and at worst did not accomplish some of its most important goals," Ross said of the trade pact that President Donald Trump calls a disaster for the United States. And "any agreement can be updated to reflect changes in all the various economies, and to correct unintended oversights" from the original deal, he said.As for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, Ross noted that many conference attendees — largely business and government officials from throughout the Americas — had "expressed reservations" about the administration's withdrawal from the TPP. "The fact is there simply was no political will on either side of the aisle for the TPP, so its demise was inevitable," Ross said. But, he added, the administration does want to keep some "good aspects" of the deal, "particularly as they pertain to market access."Canada Continues To Consider Retaliatory ‘Options’ Regarding US Trade Skirmish
The Trump administration’s decision to place tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber is leading Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Cabinet to explore ways to push back against the U.S. Asked on Tuesday to respond to what Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross called “threats” coming from U.S. northern neighbor, Canadian Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne responded: “I call them options.” Champagne said, "We've been clear: We've been proactive in our engagement but firm in our position to defend Canadian industry and Canadian workers."The remarks come after Trudeau over the weekend said he is considering "carefully and seriously" a request from British Columbia Premier Christy Clark to ban U.S. shipments of thermal coal through Canadian West Coast ports.Champagne said earlier during a speech that Canada was “working hard to realize an ambitious agenda of trade diversification.” He added that, “This includes pursuing new markets for softwood lumber given the recent U.S. duties. We believe those duties to be unfair and unwarranted, and we are taking steps to defend our industry,” he said, adding the government will take similar steps to protect Canadian dairy producers. “While the U.S. will always be a natural market for Canadian exports, there are lucrative opportunities around the world for Canadian companies.”
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