The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has provided formal written comments to the U.S. government welcoming the administration’s initiative to modernize and update the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NEMA presented its general objectives, as well as recommendations in several areas, including technical regulations, customs and trade facilitation, rules of origin, intellectual property protection, government procurement, digital trade, and services. NEMA also requested to testify at a public hearing on NAFTA of the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee.
“The U.S., Canada, and Mexico should build on the foundation of the 20-plus years of NAFTA and modernize the agreement to help make the region a manufacturing location of choice,” says NEMA President and CEO Kevin J. Cosgriff. “We look forward to working with the administration and our counterparts in Canada and Mexico on this initiative.”
NEMA’s comments emphasize the magnitude and importance of trade in electroindustry products among the three economies and stress that any changes to NAFTA should be negotiated to enhance trade and competitiveness and not reduce market access for qualified products.
The administration notified Congress of its intention to renegotiate NAFTA, which took effect on Jan. 1, 1994. The administration is expected to publish its negotiating objectives on or near July 17, thirty days prior to the formal opening of negotiations with Canada and Mexico.