NAFTA round six negotiation update

Round six of the NAFTA negotiations in Montreal, Quebec completed on Jan. 29, 2018. Key progress included the successful closure of the anti-corruption chapter.

Many have commented positively on this sixth round of negotiations and are optimistic about the rate of progress. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer stated, “To conclude, some real headway was made here today. The United States views NAFTA as a very important agreement. We are committed to moving forward. I am hopeful progress will accelerate soon. We will work very hard between now and the beginning of the next round, and we hope for major breakthroughs during that period. We will engage with both Mexico and Canada urgently, and we will go where these negotiations take us. Thank you very much."

Robert Lighthizer’s complete closing statement can be viewed here.

The trilateral negotiating teams have also agreed to an additional round of negotiations to be held in Mexico City beginning on Feb. 26, 2018. The negotiating teams expect to complete chapters on telecommunications, sanitary measures for the agricultural industry, and digital trade. The core outstanding issues include automobile regional content values, dispute settlement clauses, and NAFTA sunset/renegotiation/review timelines.

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