Mexico, Canada to stay in NAFTA even if U.S. leaves - minister

[webfact]

Mexico, Canada to stay in NAFTA even if U.S. leaves - minister

 

Mexican Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal looks on at a news conference prior to the inaugural round of North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiations in Washington, U.S., August 16, 2017. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

 

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico and Canada would remain in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) even if the Trump administration abandoned the accord, Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said on Thursday.

 

"NAFTA will continue to regulate the relationship between Mexico and Canada," Guajardo said at an event in Mexico City, noting that only Washington might consider leaving the accord. "The one that could take that decision, depending on how we get on with the negotiation, is our neighbour the United States."

 

Guajardo was speaking a day before U.S., Mexican and Canadian negotiators meet in Mexico City to work on updating the 23-year-old trade accord, which U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to dump if he cannot rework it to his satisfaction.

 

The negotiations in Mexico City will be the second round on revamping NAFTA after talks in Washington two weeks ago.

 

Trump argues the accord has cost the United States jobs and industrial capacity, while Mexico says the integration of the region has made it more competitive, helping to protect jobs.

 

"Neither Canada nor Mexico will announce their departure (from NAFTA) because we want to keep being regulated by NAFTA," Guajardo added after a meeting with lawmakers.

 

(Reporting by Adriana Barrera; Editing by Sandra Maler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-09-01

[pegman]

Drop the Americans,, insert China, carry on.

[whaleboneman]

Trump, the self-proclaimed deal maker, can't seem to make a deal with anyone.

[Jingthing]

Making America Irrelevant Again.

[jerojero]

Trump, the self-proclaimed deal maker, can't seem to make a deal with anyone.

Super Deal Expert Trump! You betcha! (Aka, Mr Blowhard Liar.)

[Kiwiken]

Nafta, Tppa probably are bad Trade deals except for the mega Corporations that run them. But Trumps vision of the USA always being on the Gain side of every trade deal goes against the principles of free trade. The power of the Banks and mega Corporations are what is driving down people living standards not free trade. But Trump knows he will not benefit from improving peoples Social Standards of living.

[wanderluster]

mexico can stop cheap labor from going to america, american products triple in price crippling them. canada can divert water so america no longer has any power. then we wil see trumps big negotiation plans. about less than 1 yr for impeachment. america going to to invade mexico or canada, i would love to see what the rest of the world would have to say to that. trump will most lkey get taken advantage of his "big deal" amd will come out saying that he won great things. that is trump

[Caps]

Don't give them a chance to rework anything to their satisfaction, drop them and carry on

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, Caps said:

Don't give them a chance to rework anything to their satisfaction, drop them and carry on

nafta without the usa is nothing

[ilostmypassword]

4 hours ago, Kiwiken said:

Nafta, Tppa probably are bad Trade deals except for the mega Corporations that run them. But Trumps vision of the USA always being on the Gain side of every trade deal goes against the principles of free trade. The power of the Banks and mega Corporations are what is driving down people living standards not free trade. But Trump knows he will not benefit from improving peoples Social Standards of living.

I know that lots of American farmers would disagree with you about those trade deals. The rest I pretty much agree with.

[ilostmypassword]

On 9/1/2017 at 9:45 AM, pegman said:

Drop the Americans,, insert China, carry on.

Only if you could geographically insert China into the space now occupied by the contiguous 48 states of the USA. 

Edited September 2, 2017 by ilostmypassword

[Caps]

1 hour ago, YetAnother said:

nafta without the usa is nothing

Time will tell

[tonbridgebrit]

NAFTA without the USA is a load of rubbish. America sits in between Canada and Mexico. How on earth can Canada and Mexico have free-trade when all the stuff has to go through America ?

Can you imagine Cambodia and Burma having free-trade, but they're going to do it, without Thailand ? It would never happen. Because, again, it's Thailand that sits in between Cambodia and Burma.

Okay, for NAFTA, how about this ?  America and Canada will scrap their border right now. Allow total freedom of movement of goods and workers. And then, give it five years, scrap the border between America and Mexico. Allow total freedom of movement of goods and workers between America (Texas, California) and Mexico. It's all about the time factor, time is needed, yes, five years.

[Guest]

14 minutes ago, tonbridgebrit said:

NAFTA without the USA is a load of rubbish. America sits in between Canada and Mexico. How on earth can Canada and Mexico have free-trade when all the stuff has to go through America ?
 

As Mexico is not part of TIR (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TIR_Convention), then I suppose this is the answer.

[sirineou]

 

All they need to do is negotiate for 1235 days  until the adults are back

   

[sirineou]

9 minutes ago, oilinki said:

As Mexico is not part of TIR (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TIR_Convention), then I suppose this is the answer.

I understand that the mexicans are also very good at tunneling  

[connda]

That sort of like saying you'll continue making espressos after your supply of coffee beans are no longer available. 

[connda]

On 9/1/2017 at 9:45 AM, pegman said:

Drop the Americans,, insert China, carry on.

Then the manufacturing plants in Mexico will close as the production is moved to cheaper China.  Canada, as a net consumer with the exception of the export of timber and radioactive salmon, are pretty much irrelevant to the equation.  Tecate becomes the new Detroit, not that they have a long way to fall.  Excellent idea.