Apr 16 2019 — Peter Clark — National Newswatch — Canadian steel producers and their workers have launched a full court press to persuade the Minister of Finance to introduce without delay “permanent” safeguard measures on imports of non-NAFTA steel. This is a popular initiative with politicians of many stripes supporting it only a few months before the next Federal Election. But extending safeguards for […]
Aug 30 2018 — Peter Clark — National Newswatch — The good news is that Canada’s Chief Negotiator Steve Verheul and his expert team have been able to re-engage for Canada. Deciding a hockey game with one-on-one shoot outs between the General Managers doesn’t fill the rink. The ‘packaging’ of NAFTA 2.0 will be at least as important as the substance. The devil will be in […]
Aug 29 2018 — Peter Clark — iPolitics — Global Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland is in Washington hoping to manage the fallout of Donald Trump’s U.S.-Mexico trade deal. Her negotiating team — along with provincial representatives, farm and manufacturing industry stakeholders — are on the ground and settling in for what are expected to be some intense talks. Also lurking nearby is Trudeau’s righthand […]
Aug 28 2018 — Peter Clark — iPolitics — President Donald Trump has announced a “wonderful” deal with Mexico and that the U.S.-Mexico Free Trade Agreement would replace NAFTA – which would be terminated. Separate negotiations with Canada can start immediately but still under the threat of special tariffs on automotive trade. That return to the negotiating table starts today. Trump is redecorating the […]
Apr 28 2018 — Peter Clark — iPolitics — After saying they were planning to push for a final deal, NAFTA ministers are taking off for a week while U.S. Trade Repesentative Robert Lighthizer jets off to China to put out another fire from the torch master in the White House. The NAFTA trio will get back together on May 7 or so. The […]
Apr 25 2018 — Peter Clark — iPolitics — The weather in Washington yesterday was gloomy. The mood of the NAFTA re-negotiations was even gloomier. Ministers from the U.S., Mexico and Canada have reconvened projecting optimism, but most of the people doing the actual negotiation believe the political exuberance is misplaced and optimistic. Many in Washington muse that the deal in principle would be […]
Mar 28 2018 — Peter Clark — National Newswatch — International trade took a great leap backwards with Agreement in Principle to KORUS 2.0. Korea has accepted an (in)voluntary export restraint which rolls back its steel exports by 30% of the average 2015-2017 level. The KORUS Agreement and Lighthizer’s recent statements suggest a return to Voluntary Export Restraints (VERs) as his weapon of choice to reduce […]
Mar 4 2018 — Peter Clark — iPolitics — Punitive tariffs on steel and aluminum imports are looming. That’s just a fact. The questions are: will President Donald Trump choose to walk back his promises; and will he exclude his NAFTA partners? U.S. steelworkers have been waiting for decades for a President to do what this POTUS is doing. Their positive reaction ensures the […]
Mar 2 2018 — Peter Clark — iPolitics — How real is the chatter about pressure on U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to compromise in order to conclude the NAFTA renegotiation talks? Not enough to make him easier to deal with. Lighthizer is charged with negotiating a great deal. Neither Canada nor Mexico seems willing to sing from his song book, so he will […]
Jan 26 2018 — Peter Clark — iPolitics — Surprise, surprise to everyone other than Bombardier’s legal advisors who were convinced Boeing could not meet the injury test. The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) got it right. There was no nexus between Bombardier’s sale to Delta and the injury claimed by Boeing. It was perplexing how an aircraft producer with a six- to eight-year […]
Nov 21 2017 — Peter Clark — National Newswatch — MEXICO CITY – Why have I put the NAFTA 2.0 negotiations on Deathwatch? Why not wait a bit longer? Passage of tax legislation may change the negotiating environment. Congress is on our side. Why declare a Deathwatch? From the outset Canada’s and Mexico’s best option was to hope for the best and prepare for the […]
Nov 21 2017 — Peter Clark — National Newswatch — MEXICO CITY – Why have I put the NAFTA 2.0 negotiations on Deathwatch? Why not wait a bit longer? Passage of tax legislation may change the negotiating environment. Congress is on our side. Why declare a Deathwatch? From the outset Canada’s and Mexico’s best option was to hope for the best and prepare for the […]
Nov 20 2017 — Peter Clark — National Newswatch — MEXICO CITY – It is very misleading to describe Round Five of the NAFTA 2.0 rebalancing negotiations in Mexico City as quiet or slow. The TV camera ambush at the bottom of the stairs from the main negotiating floor was abandoned for much of Sunday. They are back at their posts but how often does […]
Nov 20 2017 — Peter Clark — National Newswatch — MEXICO CITY – It is very misleading to describe Round Five of the NAFTA 2.0 rebalancing negotiations in Mexico City as quiet or slow. The TV camera ambush at the bottom of the stairs from the main negotiating floor was abandoned for much of Sunday. They are back at their posts but how often does the […]
Nov 19 2017 — Peter Clark — National Newswatch — MEXICO CITY – Round Five of the NAFTA re-balancing negotiations has launched in Mexico City. Don’t hold your breath waiting for significant breakthroughs. The talks are bogged down in poison pills and inflexibility. The battleground moved last week to Da Nang, Vietnam, a venue which has been conflict free for more than 40 years from what […]