May 4, 2017
NAFTA
The recent report of a draft Executive Order withdrawing from NAFTA sparked great concern within the San Diego business community. While the Chamber agrees that NAFTA is due for an update, exiting the agreement is a threat to thousands of local jobs dependent on trade and would severely impair our region’s global competitiveness. The Chamber expressed opposition to the withdrawal order to key Congressional offices providing specific data on industries and jobs at risk.
Late Wednesday, April 26th, the White House released a statement announcing the President has agreed not to terminate NAFTA and would revert back to the process of renegotiation. We applaud the President’s swift action working with the leaders of our neighboring countries and main trading partners and his response to business advocates. We are in full support of the administration’s immediate engagement in renegotiations. There remains much work to do leading up to the renegotiation as much is at risk for our members. The Chamber continues its advocacy efforts and encourages our members to remain engaged on this topic.
Trade Agreement Review and Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy
Following the NAFTA statement, on Saturday, April 29th, two new executive orders were announced – one to review the existing U.S. trade agreements and the other to establish a new White House “Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy” (OTMP). The agreements review will be submitted to the president within 180 days. The OTMP will serve as a liaison between the White House and Department of Commerce to present innovative strategies and “to defend and serve American workers and domestic manufacturers while advising the president on policies to increase economic growth, decrease the trade deficit, and strengthen the United States manufacturing and defense industrial bases.”
Related links:
Chamber President and CEO Jerry Sanders spoke with KPBS about the threat of withdrawal from NAFTA Trump Says U.S. Will Not Leave NAFTA — For Now | KPBS
U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue made a strong pro-NAFTA speech in Mexico (remarks here and a summary blog here).