December 7, 2017
On November 20, 2017, Vice President Paola Avila testified in favor of NAFTA, in San Antonio, Texas, before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs, and Global Competitiveness. Led by Texas Senator John Cornyn, the hearing included testimony from trade officials and industry stakeholders about the impact of NAFTA.
Avila testified on behalf of the Chamber and as Chair of the Border Trade Alliance, an organization that favors modernizing the agreement to make its participants globally competitive. Avila highlighted that the U.S., Mexico, and Canada collaborate in production and provided an example of the automotive industry explaining that components can cross the border several times before the finished product is ready. She also expressed the need for an urgent modernization of the treaty and its potential impact on different sectors including environmental infrastructure.
The testimony also included specific information on recommendations for a modernized trade agreement and for the U.S. negotiating position. A copy of the full testimony can be reviewed here:
https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/20NOV2017AvilaSTMNT.PDF
For more on the hearing, read the following articles:
The San Diego Union-Tribune: San Diego Chamber vice president testifies on NAFTA
San Antonio Business Journal: NAFTA debate brings Senate committee hearing to San Antonio