The Trump administration has released their plans for renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. Observers say they are surprisingly similar to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Trump withdrew from in one of his first acts as president. As the White House kicks off its “Made in America”-themed week, labor leaders say the new NAFTA plan worsens protections for workers and would be “the ultimate in hypocrisy.” “There’s enough vagueness in the descriptions that it’s unclear of the things that simply must be done,” says Public Citizen’s Lori Wallach. She also notes that “[Trump] has refused to divest his business interests. He’s refused to disclose what his full investments are in Mexico and Canada.”
TRANSCRIPT
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JUAN GONZĂLEZ: We begin today with Monday’s highly anticipated release of the Trump administration’s goals for renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. The 17-page document outlines Trump’s plans to reduce the US trade deficit with Mexico and eliminate a controversial dispute settlement mechanism. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said, quote, “Too many Americans have been hurt by closed factories, exported jobs, and broken political promises.” And he vowed to negotiate a, quote, “fair deal.”
Trade analysts say the plan is vague and sounds a lot like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12-country trade deal that included Canada and Mexico. On the campaign trail, Trump called the TPP, quote, “a continuing rape of our country.” He then withdrew the US from the deal in one of his first acts as president. Meanwhile, labor leaders criticized the new NAFTA plan, saying it worsens protections for workers. AFL–CIO President Richard Trumka said, quote, “Small changes around the edges — or the insertion of disastrous Trans-Pacific Partnership provisions — are not acceptable and would be the ultimate in hypocrisy.”
AMY GOODMAN: The release of the NAFTA…