NAFTA – Can It Be Saved? A Policy Forum

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Date: Wednesday, November 8, 2017 -12:00pm to 1:30pm

Location: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2075, 45 Independence Ave SW, Washington, D.C. 20515

President Trump has characterized the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as the worst trade deal ever made. The administration is currently in negotiations with Canada and Mexico to renegotiate NAFTA and has issued statements suggesting the administration is pursuing unconventional and aggressive negotiating positions.

While it would benefit many people to update NAFTA, recent statements by the administration are highly unusual in a trade negotiation.

What would these provisions mean to the U.S. economy? If successful, then what implications would these new provisions have for U.S. industries and workers? What if the negotiations fail as a result of these unconventional demands?

The Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy convened a panel discussion of the status of the negotiations and the potential implications.

The policy forum, organized by J. Robert Vastine, Senior Industry Fellow, Center for Business and Public Policy, offered a panel discussion moderated by J. Bradford Jensen (remarks begin at 0:27 ), Senior Policy Scholar, Center for Business and Public Policy, and McCrane/Shaker Chair in International Business, Georgetown University McDonough School of Business, and a question and answer session (remarks begin at 49:18 ). Panelists include:

  • Christine Bliss, President, Coalition of Service Industries (remarks begin at 13:16 )
  • Josh Nassar, Legislative Director, United Auto Workers (remarks begin at 28:40 )
  • David Thomas, Vice President, Business Roundtable (remarks begin at 39:05 )
  • John Veroneau, Partner, Covington & Burling LLP (remarks begin at 3:28 )

This forum is part of the Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy’s Georgetown on the Hill series at which we convene policymakers, academics, and industry experts to discuss important economic policy issues of the day.