Trump to withdraw from NAFTA
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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump told Congress Friday that he wants to go forward with a U.S.-Mexican trade pact to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement – possibly leaving Canada out in the cold.
Even though Trump's top trade negotiator said he would continue talking to Canadian officials next week, Trump made clear publicly something that he previously would only say privately: He has no interest in compromising with Canada now that he has a Mexican deal in hand.
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President Donald Trump gestures while speaking at the Harris Conference Center in Charlotte, N.C., Friday.
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In Charlotte, N.C., Trump complained about a leak of an off-the-record portion of his interview Thursday with Bloomberg News in which he said he would not compromise with Canada. But then he added, "It's O.K., because at least Canada knows how I feel.”
In a statement Friday afternoon, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer sent a conflicting message, saying talks with Canada "were constructive, and we made progress."
By sending a formal notification to Congress Friday, Trump triggered a 90-day clock to fast-track the new trade deal.
"I hereby notify the House of Representatives and the Senate that I intend to enter into a trade agreement with Mexico – and with Canada if it is willing, in a timely manner, to meet the high standards for free, fair, and reciprocal trade," Trump said in his letter to Congress.
The three nations have been trying to reach a trade agreement since Trump threatened to pull out of the NAFTA last year.
The top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee said Trump is moving too fast.
“It sure looks like the president is more concerned with announcing a deal during election season, rather than getting the best deal possible for American workers," said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
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President Trump is trying to negotiate with Canada.
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A media leak of off-record comments by President Trump has roiled the high-wire negotiations with Canada over the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Trump has been trying to negotiate a new NAFTA with both trading partners. He announced Monday that he has secured a tentative deal with Mexico and said “we’ll see” if Canada can be part of the new agreement. The administration had set a deadline of Friday for a deal with Canada.
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