<div dir="auto"><div style="font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13.696px" dir="auto"><div style="margin:16px 0px"><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif">H<a href="http://tucson.com/business/as-nafta-talks-approach-mexican-officials-meet-with-business-leaders/article_64878086-06a9-5433-8752-8f4cb5d8b2a3.html" style="font-size:9pt;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(66,133,244)">ttp://tucson.com/business/as-<wbr>nafta-talks-approach-mexican-<wbr>officials-meet-with-business-<wbr>leaders/article_64878086-06a9-<wbr>5433-8752-8f4cb5d8b2a3.html</a></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><u></u> <u></u></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:20pt">As NAFTA talks approach, Mexican officials meet with business leaders in border states<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:'arial',sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51)"><a href="https://tucson.com/users/profile/Gabi%20Rico" style="text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(66,133,244)"><span style="color:black">By Gabriela Rico Arizona Daily Star</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:'arial',sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51)"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:'arial',sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51)"> <u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:'arial',sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51)">Aug 5, 2017<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:'arial',sans-serif;color:rgb(51,51,51)"> <u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><u></u> <u></u></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">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.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">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.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">“We want to be sure that, first, we do no harm by re-establishing tariffs,” he said during an interview with the Star.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">Logistical discussions should focus around enhancing the use of <u>rail</u> to move trade between the three countries, Smith Ramos said<b>. And, a controversial provision that allows <u>truckers</u> from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to travel into each other’s countries must remain an option, he added</b>.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><b><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">Despite the fact that few companies have applied for such access, Smith Ramos believes the option should remain in the renegotiated agreement.<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><b><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">“It’s important to have cross-border <u>trucking</u>,” he said. “We think it is essential.”<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">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.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">“Our countries should combat piracy,” Smith Ramos said. “We can’t see each other as rivals.”<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">Also, Mexico opening its oil, gas and power sectors should be reflected in any update.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">“We’re in a new generation,” Smith Ramos said.</span><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">During his visit to Arizona, Smith Ramos met with business leaders and emphasized the impact NAFTA has had specifically on Arizona.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">Mexico is Arizona’s largest export market. In 2016, trade between Arizona and Mexico surpassed $15.7 billion.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">Exports from Arizona have increased 332 percent since NAFTA was implemented.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">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.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">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.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">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.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-size:15pt;color:rgb(68,68,68)">The quick pace is an attempt to have an improved NAFTA prior to the Mexican presidential election in 2018.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:inherit;font-family:'times new roman',serif;margin-bottom:0.25in;background:white;line-height:inherit"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:'arial',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif;margin-bottom:0.25in;background:white"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:'arial',sans-serif;color:rgb(68,68,68)">Contact reporter Gabriela Rico at <a href="mailto:grico@tucson.com" style="text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(66,133,244)">grico@tucson.com</a>.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><u></u> <u></u></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><b><span style="font-family:'bell mt',serif">Michael F. Dolan, J.D.<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-family:'bell mt',serif">Legislative Representative<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-family:'bell mt',serif">International Brotherhood of Teamsters<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-family:'bell mt',serif">Desk  <a href="tel:%28202%29%20624-6891" style="text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(66,133,244)">202.624.6891</a><u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-family:'bell mt',serif">Fax    <a href="tel:%28202%29%20624-8973" style="text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(66,133,244)">202.624.8973</a><u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><span style="font-family:'bell mt',serif">Cell    <a href="tel:%28202%29%20437-2254" style="text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(66,133,244)">202.437.2254</a><u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:'times new roman',serif"><u></u> <br></p></div></div><br><div data-smartmail="gmail_signature">Arthur Stamoulis<br>Citizens Trade Campaign <br>(202) 494-8826</div></div>