[CTC] As NAFTA talks approach, Mexican officials meet with business leaders in border states

[Arthur Stamoulis]

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officials-meet-with-business-leaders/article_64878086-06a9-
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As NAFTA talks approach, Mexican officials meet with business leaders in
border states

By Gabriela Rico Arizona Daily Star
<https://tucson.com/users/profile/Gabi%20Rico>



Aug 5, 2017





As talks about revisiting the North American Free Trade Agreement approach,
Mexico is aggressively promoting a message of wanting to preserve and
enhance the 23-year-old treaty.



But rolling back any provisions that Mexico views as favorable to all three
countries is not negotiable, Kenneth Smith Ramos, head of the Trade and
NAFTA office at the Embassy of Mexico, said during a recent visit to
Southern Arizona.



“We want to be sure that, first, we do no harm by re-establishing tariffs,”
he said during an interview with the Star.

Logistical discussions should focus around enhancing the use of *rail* to
move trade between the three countries, Smith Ramos said*. And, a
controversial provision that allows truckers from Canada, the U.S. and
Mexico to travel into each other’s countries must remain an option, he
added*.



*Despite the fact that few companies have applied for such access, Smith
Ramos believes the option should remain in the renegotiated agreement.*



*“It’s important to have cross-border trucking,” he said. “We think it is
essential.”*



To modernize NAFTA, language should be added that includes intellectual
property rights and digital trade — something that has grown substantially
since the agreement went into effect in 1994.



“Our countries should combat piracy,” Smith Ramos said. “We can’t see each
other as rivals.”



Also, Mexico opening its oil, gas and power sectors should be reflected in
any update.



“We’re in a new generation,” Smith Ramos said.



During his visit to Arizona, Smith Ramos met with business leaders and
emphasized the impact NAFTA has had specifically on Arizona.



Mexico is Arizona’s largest export market. In 2016, trade between Arizona
and Mexico surpassed $15.7 billion.

Exports from Arizona have increased 332 percent since NAFTA was implemented.



In his new book, Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake touched on NAFTA, saying if the
U.S. were to “rip up” the treaty it would have a “seismic” effect on the
U.S.



Flake warned that the U.S. won’t create the jobs and industries of tomorrow
and that China is prepared to step in and do trade deals with Mexico if the
United States won’t.



Revisiting NAFTA talks are expected to begin in Washington on Aug. 16, to
be kicked off with dinner, then seven rounds of negotiations before the end
of the year in all three countries.



The quick pace is an attempt to have an improved NAFTA prior to the Mexican
presidential election in 2018.



Contact reporter Gabriela Rico at grico at tucson.com.



*Michael F. Dolan, J.D.*

Legislative Representative

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Desk  202.624.6891 <%28202%29%20624-6891>

Fax    202.624.8973 <%28202%29%20624-8973>

Cell    202.437.2254 <%28202%29%20437-2254>



Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826
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