What Asia Should Look Out for in Donald Trump’s NAFTA Talks
Wendy Cutler in the South China Morning Post
In an op-ed in the South China Morning Post on May 23, 2017, Asia Society Policy Institute Vice President Wendy Cutler explains why Asian economies are likely to pay great attention to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiation.
The Trump administration officially notified Congress on May 18 of its intent to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, Mexico and the U.S. With the 90-day congressional consultation clock now triggered, all eyes in the trade world are on the renegotiation of this 23-year-old agreement, which President Donald Trump had previously referred to as “the worst trade deal ever”.
Beyond the Americas, no region of the world could be more affected by the outcome of these talks than Asia. With its high dependence on trade for growth, its commercial interests in North America, and its growing trade and investment ties with U.S. neighbors, the stakes are high for Asia.
As the first free trade agreement negotiation in the Trump administration’s queue, the NAFTA talks will provide important insights into the substantive priorities and negotiating tactics of the Trump team.