<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class=""><div class="inline-date" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2018/08/27/prime-minister-justin-trudeau-speaks-united-states-president-donald-j-trump" class="">https://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2018/08/27/prime-minister-justin-trudeau-speaks-united-states-president-donald-j-trump</a></div></div><div class="inline-date" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><font color="#333333" face="Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" class=""><span style="font-size: 14px;" class=""><br class=""></span></font></div><div class="inline-date" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><ol class="breadcrumb-heading breadcrumb" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 3px 0px 24px 6px; padding: 0px; list-style: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; clear: left; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><li class="active" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; float: left;">Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with United States President Donald J. Trump</li></ol><div class=""><br class=""></div></div><div class="inline-date" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="inline-date" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: right; padding-right: 15px; font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Ottawa, Ontario - August 27, 2018</div><span style="font-family: Hind, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""></span><div class="field-label-hidden field-name-body field field-type-text-with-summary" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-top: 0.5em; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.375em; clear: both; padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 0.5em; font-family: Hind, sans-serif;"><div class="field-items" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" class="">The Prime Minister had a constructive conversation today with President Trump regarding the North American Free Trade Agreement. The leaders welcomed the progress that has been made in discussions with Mexico and look forward to having their teams engage this week with a view to a successful conclusion of negotiations.</div></div></div></div></div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt; text-align: center;" class=""><div class=""><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt; text-align: center;" class=""><br class=""></span></div>R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America</span><br class=""><div apple-content-edited="true" class=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; widows: 2; border-spacing: 0px;"><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class=""><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 4pt;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto; text-align: center;" class=""><span style="font-size: 19pt; font-family: 'Brush Script MT';" class="">“</span><span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: 'Lucida Handwriting';" class="">F</span><span style="font-size: 19pt; font-family: 'Brush Script MT';" class="">ighting for the Independent </span><span style="font-size: 17.5pt; font-family: 'Brush Script MT';" class="">U.S. </span><span style="font-size: 15.5pt; font-family: 'Brush Script MT';" class="">C</span><span style="font-size: 19pt; font-family: 'Brush Script MT';" class="">attle </span><span style="font-size: 17pt; font-family: 'Brush Script MT';" class="">P</span><span style="font-size: 19pt; font-family: 'Brush Script MT';" class="">roducer”<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto; text-align: center;" class=""><span style="font-size: 4pt;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">For Immediate Release: Contact: R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">August 27, 2018 Phone: 406-252-2516; </span><a href="mailto:r-calfusa@r-calfusa.com" style="color: purple;" class=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">r-calfusa@r-calfusa.com</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto; text-align: center;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""> </span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto; text-align: center;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""> </span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto; text-align: center;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">Trump Administration Hasn’t Said if New U.S.-Mexico Trade Agreement Requires COOL<o:p class=""></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""> </span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><b class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">Billings, Mont. </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">– Today, R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard issued the following statement regarding President Trump’s announcement that he has renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in part by negotiating a new trade agreement between the United States and Mexico.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">“We have fully supported the Trump Administration’s plan to renegotiate NAFTA and while some of the details released today indicate the new U.S.-Mexico trade agreement will benefit some U.S. economic sectors, such as the auto industry and its workers by requiring a higher percentage of supply-chain parts to be sourced in the U.S. and Mexico, we don’t yet know if the new agreement contains the critical requirement for country of origin labeling (COOL) on Mexican beef and beef from Mexican cattle.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">“For decades the U.S. cattle industry has been unable to produce enough beef to meet domestic demand. This is because prior free trade agreements, particularly NAFTA, allow unlimited numbers of tariff-free cattle from countries like Mexico, where cattle are overproduced at a significantly lower cost. These lower-cost imported cattle displace opportunities for current and aspiring U.S. cattle producers to expand or start their herd.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">“Because beef from these imported cattle can be sold as a “Product of U.SA” in our domestic market, the multinational beef packers wallow in higher profits because their ability to source lower-cost cattle that produce lower-cost, undifferentiated beef inflates their profit margins.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">“Every time our industry’s price-point signals an opportunity to strengthen our domestic industry, unlimited imports of cheaper cattle and undifferentiated beef enter the U.S. and drive that price-point downward, thus eliminating opportunities for U.S. farmers and ranchers.<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">“Since NAFTA, the U.S. imports on average 1.1 million Mexican cattle each year. This represents a lost opportunity for over 3,500 U.S. ranches with a herd size of 300 head each. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">“Our domestic live cattle supply chain shrank by 6.5 million domestic cattle since NAFTA and this U.S.-Mexico trade agreement should contain provisions to help our industry reverse this downward trend. <o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">“We hope that a further release of details will show that COOL will be required for Mexican beef and beef from Mexican cattle.”<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto; text-align: center;" class=""><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""># # #<o:p class=""></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto; text-align: center;" class=""><strong class=""> </strong></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class=""> <em class="">R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) is the largest producer-only cattle trade association in the United States. It is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. For more information, visit </em></span><a href="http://www.r-calfusa.com" style="color: purple;" class=""><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" class="">www.r-calfusa.com</span></a><em class=""> or, call 406-252-2516. </em></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><em class=""><br class=""></em></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><em class=""><br class=""></em></div></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;" class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><a href="https://foe.org/news/trump-strikes-trade-deal-mexico/" class="">https://foe.org/news/trump-strikes-trade-deal-mexico/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><h1 style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px; font-size: 48px; margin: 4px 0px; font-family: Acherus, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class="">Trump Strikes Trade Deal with Mexico</h1><p class="post-author" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; font-size: 20px; font-family: Acherus, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;"><time datetime="August 27, 2018" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px; display: block; color: rgb(155, 155, 155); font-size: 16px;" class="">August 27, 2018</time></p><span class="subtitle" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px; color: rgb(132, 132, 132); display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; font-size: 25px; line-height: 35px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-family: Acherus, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; orphans: auto; widows: auto;">Deal threatens public health and the planet</span><span style="font-family: Acherus, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; orphans: auto; widows: auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""></span><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; font-family: Acherus, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><b style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px;" class="">WASHINGTON, D.C. –</b><span style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px;" class=""> Donald Trump claimed today that the United States and Mexico have reached a general agreement on the broad outlines of a new NAFTA deal. However, Canada is not on board with the U.S., and negotiations are likely to continue.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; font-family: Acherus, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; orphans: auto; widows: auto;" class=""><b style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px;" class="">Bill Waren, senior trade analyst at Friends of the Earth,</b><span style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px;" class=""> issued the following statement:</span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; font-family: Acherus, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; orphans: auto; widows: auto; padding-left: 30px;" class=""><span style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px;" class="">Any new NAFTA deal negotiated by Donald Trump will be an across-the-board threat to environmental and public health safeguards. Trump’s new trade deal could </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px;" class="">roll back regulation of dangerous chemicals such as those associated with breast cancer, autism, or infertility. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px; margin: 0px 0px 25px; font-family: Acherus, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; orphans: auto; widows: auto; padding-left: 30px;" class=""><span style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px;" class="">From neonicotinoid pesticides, which are killing our pollinators, to new provisions on autos and fossil fuels, Trump’s deal with Mexico will jeopardize our health and our planet. Trump’s new NAFTA deal must be stopped.</span></p></div><div class=""><span style="box-sizing: inherit; max-height: 1000000px;" class=""><br class=""></span></div></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span><a href="https://www.keionline.org/28688" class="">https://www.keionline.org/28688</a>
</div><div apple-content-edited="true" class=""><br class=""></div><div apple-content-edited="true" class=""><header class="entry-header" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="margin: 0px 50px 3px 0px; font-family: 'Yanone Kaffeesatz', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); text-rendering: optimizelegibility; font-size: 2.4em;">Trump Administration announces details of possible trade deal with Mexico</h1><div class="entry-meta" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-size: 0.9em;"><span class="posted-on">Posted on <a href="https://www.keionline.org/28688" title="10:04 pm" rel="bookmark" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none; transition: all 0.14s ease 0s;" class=""><time class="entry-date published updated" datetime="2018-08-27T22:04:34+00:00">August 27, 2018</time></a></span><span class="byline"> by <span class="vcard author"><a class="url n fn" href="https://www.keionline.org/author/james-love" title="View all posts by James Love" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none; transition: all 0.14s ease 0s;">James Love</a></span></span></div></header><div class="clearfix entry-content" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">USTR has provided some details of the new trade agreement with Mexico, <a href="https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2018/august/modernizing-nafta-be-21st-century" style="color: rgb(235, 33, 33); text-decoration: none; outline: none; transition: all 0.14s ease 0s;" class="">here</a>. As usual, the agreement seems to favor drug companies and holders of copyrights, although few of the details are known. Among the specifics revealed are a proposed extension of copyright to what appears to be life+ 75 years, shorter than the Mexico term but longer that the current US term, and a minimum 10 years for protection of test data for biologic drugs, longer than the term in the TPP.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;" class="">The USTR press release has extensive details on digital trade issues. Among the several issues that concern KEI is the agreement to “Limit governments’ ability to require disclosure of proprietary computer source code and algorithms, to better protect the competitiveness of digital suppliers.” Given the state of security concerns and the lack of a coherent response to the challenges of software related monopolies, it seems unwise to lock governments into policies prevent mandates to make certain code open.</p><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div class="research-headline" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-size: 16px;"><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: Yrsa, serif; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 50px; font-size: 49px; color: rgb(35, 64, 143);" class="">CPA Statement on US-Mexico Trade Agreement</h2></div><div id="content" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-family: 'Open Sans', Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(54, 54, 54); font-size: 16px;" class=""><div id="intro" class="intro" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="content" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; min-height: 160px;"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class="">The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) expressed support for President Trump and his trade team taking aggressive and unconventional steps to craft a new trade arrangement with Mexico. We continue to study the newly announced agreement.</span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" class=""><br class=""></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class="">“This is another example of President Trump living up to his campaign promises by renegotiating or terminating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and pursuing bilateral trade deals instead,” said Dan DIMicco, Chairman of CPA. “Despite vociferous opposition from Congress, foreign companies and the import lobby, the President and his trade team continue to work hard for domestic producers.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class="">“We support the administration’s work to gain trade leverage and overturn the past policy of unilateral trade disarmament which caused offshoring and wage stagnation,” said Michael Stumo, CEO of CPA. “If Canada refuses to negotiate, they should not expect to be included.”<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class="">Previously <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.prosperousamerica.org/cpa_testimony_nafta_negotiations" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: none; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(35, 64, 143); text-decoration: none;" class="">reports by CPA</a> have shown that US trade performance with Mexico significantly worsened after NAFTA was implemented in 1994. The details of the new US-Mexico trade agreement have yet to be fully revealed. Some basic information has been released. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class="">Rules of Origin</span>: Progress appears to have been made on rules of origin in several manufacturing sectors. Seventy five percent (75%) of auto content must be made in the US and Mexico under the agreement, which at first blush is an increase from the current NAFTA. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class="">Other rules of origin on chemicals, steel intensive products, glass and optical fiber have been announced. Strong rules of origin are necessary to prevent China and other countries from shipping product through Mexico to the US. Certification and verification of rules of origin are also to be strengthened, which provides for more effective enforcement to prevent duty evasion. CPA will study those rules as more details are released.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class="">Labor Content Rules</span>: An intriguing new labor value content rule will require that 40-45% of auto content be made by workers earning at least $16 per hour. That rule, if implemented, could further increase the proportion of US content in autos because Mexican workers make far below that amount. The specific provisions of this rule are important and remain to be seen.</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class="">Agriculture</span>: Agricultural goods will purportedly continue receiving zero tariff treatment. Corn and soybean farmers will be supportive because they are net exporters to Mexico. Fruit and vegetable growers as well as cattle producers, however, have suffered from cheap Mexican net imports that have displaced their share of the US consumer market.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class="">We remain hopeful country of origin labeling for meats was included in the deal, though early reports are silent on this issue. Canada and Mexico were the instigators of a World Trade Organization proceeding that wrongly found that America’s country of origin meat labeling rules violated international trade rules. Foreign and multinational food companies oppose informing consumers about where their food comes from.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class="">Section 232 Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum</span>: While early announcements did not discuss the section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum, CPA has heard that the tariffs will remain in place as to Mexico or be shifted to quotas so as to prevent a surge of direct or trans-shipped imports from Mexico. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 700; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class="">Misaligned Exchange Rates</span>: Early reports are silent as to whether currency is included in the US-Mexico deal. We look forward to learning more. Whether or not included, America should implement unilateral measures such as charges on excessive foreign capital inflows that drive the US dollar too high. The strong dollar, supported by Wall Street financiers that sell dollar assets, depresses US exports of goods and services and subsidizes imports. The US needs a competitive dollar price to eliminate the trade deficit, increase wages and grow domestic production.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class="">CPA will continue supporting the President and his trade team on efforts to grow valued added food and goods supply chains in the US, balance trade, and transition towards strategic trade policies that benefit American producers. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class="">[Fact sheets distributed by the Office of the US Trade Representative can be found at the following links. <a href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/prosperousamerica/pages/4559/attachments/original/1535403848/USTR_-_Rebalancing_NAFTA_to_Support_Manufacturing.pdf?1535403848" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: none; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(35, 64, 143); text-decoration: none;" class="">Manufacturing Fact Sheet</a>, <a href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/prosperousamerica/pages/4559/attachments/original/1535403849/USTR_-_Strengthening_NAFTA_for_Agriculture_Manufacturing.pdf?1535403849" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: none; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(35, 64, 143); text-decoration: none;" class="">Agriculture Fact Sheet</a>, <a href="https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/prosperousamerica/pages/4559/attachments/original/1535403846/USTR_-_Modernizing_NAFTA_to_be_a_21st_Century_Trade_Agreement.pdf?1535403846" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: none; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(35, 64, 143); text-decoration: none;" class="">Intellectual Property Fact Sheet</a>.]<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" class=""></span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class="">About CPA: The Coalition for a Prosperous America is the nation’s premier organization working on the intersection of trade, jobs, tax, and economic growth. We represent the interests of 4.1 million households through our agricultural, manufacturing, and labor members.</em></div><div class=""><em style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""><br class=""></em></div></div></div><div id="stream" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;" class=""></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>