[CTC] Sources: Fourth NAFTA round set for Oct. 11-15 in Washington, DC, area

[Arthur Stamoulis]

INSIDE US TRADE
Sources: Fourth NAFTA round set for Oct. 11-15 in Washington, DC, area

September 13, 2017 
The fourth round of North American Free Trade Agreement modernization talks will be held Oct. 11-15 in the Washington, DC, area, sources tell Inside U.S. Trade.

The U.S, Canada and Mexico are holding talks at roughly three-week intervals, rotating among the nations’ capitals. The third round, in Ottawa, is set for Sept. 23-27.

If the schedule holds, a fifth round would be held in Mexico City in early November.

To date negotiators have focused on areas in which the three countries are in agreement or were able to find common ground <https://insidetrade.com/node/160206>.

USTR had initially told congressional staff and cleared advisers that the plan was to table all text by the third round, at which U.S. proposals on more contentious issues were expected to be discussed in detail <https://insidetrade.com/node/160219>.

But sources said Trump administration officials this week were no longer set on that time line, with one source describing it as a “softer goal these days” and expressing doubt that USTR will be ready to present all text to its Mexican and Canadian counterparts in 10 days.

Outstanding chapters for which the U.S. has not tabled text include rules of origin -- an area in which USTR’s ideas have been met with criticism even before text has been produced or shared with stakeholders -- as well as labor, financial services and investment.

The Trump administration has yet to share its approach on the trade deficit, which USTR proclaims is its top priority for a retooled NAFTA.

Also unclear is what it plans to do with currency. One source said USTR and the Treasury Department are still “fighting” over a currency provision, something Treasury has traditionally opposed in free trade agreements.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told reporters on the sidelines of the second round of talks last week that negotiators did not close out any chapters but had consolidated text in multiple areas.

He touted progress the three countries have made in the first two negotiating rounds and said the U.S. was hoping to have all of its texts tabled “very shortly <https://insidetrade.com/node/160154>.”

USTR is expected to share text with congressional staff early next week and will then make it available to cleared advisers. Some observers and some involved in the negotiations have faulted the fast pace and short turnaround times as insufficient for substantive input. -- Jenny Leonard (jleonard at iwpnews.com <mailto:jleonard at iwpnews.com>)


Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826




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