Let’s set out the target date of importance: Round 3 of the NAFTA Modernization/Renegotiation meetings will take place in Ottawa, Canada between September 23-27, 2017. Round 1 took place in Washington D.C. between August 16-20, 2017 and Round 2 will take place in Mexico City between September 1-5 in Mexico City, Mexico.
Under
There is some concern that U.S. President Trump will cancel NAFTA (because he has said he would terminate NAFTA if he does not get what he wants from Canada and Mexico during the NAFTA renegotiation meetings). One of the concerns raised in the media is that Canada will impose customs duties on U.S.-origin manufacturing inputs,
Article XXIV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (“GATT 1994”) (and the Understanding on the Interpretation of GATT Article XXIV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994) may prevent some of the U.S. demands made at the start of the NAFTA modernization/renegotiation talks this week. Article XXIV of
On August 14, 2017, Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Chrystia Freeland delivered Canada’s list of NAFTA Modernization (note, not “renegotiation”) “core objectives”. Minister Freeland stresses that Canada’s mission is a modern and progressive free trade agreement. She stressed that “Trade is about people” and jobs in Canada and Canada’s NAFTA partners. Canada’s approach will be to