Thursday, March 28, AD 2024 6:54pm

Trump NAFTA

 

Amazing how Trump is portrayed as a hopeless bumbler by the Democrats and most of the media and yet he manages to accomplish things, like renegotiating NAFTA with Mexico and Canada, hitherto thought impossible.  Here are some of the provisions:

 

Intellectual Property

One of the biggest grievances in talks between the U.S. and China as a trade war between the world’s two largest economies continues, the USMCA aims to protect intellectual property by requiring Canada and Mexico to treat U.S. copyrights with the same protections as their domestic ones.

The White House also said the new deal will protect against the circumvention of technological protection measures, such as those that protect digital content.

The deal specifically includes 10 years of protection for biologic drugs, as well as pharmaceutical and agricultural innovators.

The deal contains the strongest protections for trade secrets out of any so far, according to the White House.

Win for U.S. farmers

The deal will open Canada’s dairy market to U.S. products, including fluid milks, cream, butter and cheese. It also imposes a limit on how many dairy products Canada can export and eliminates tariffs on margarine and whey.

Trump said on Monday that “dairy was a deal breaker” during renegotiation discussions, particularly the stipulation that Canada eliminate a program that allowed it to undersell U.S. products domestically and in other markets.

Canada will also provide new access for U.S. chicken and egg exports, and increase access for turkey.

Auto sector

The deal calls for 40 percent to 45 percent of cars to be produced by workers earning $16 an hour, much higher than the minimum wage in Mexico. This aims to support jobs in the U.S. auto industry by leveling the playing field.

USMCA addresses so-called “rules of origin” by requiring automakers to use a higher percentage of vehicle parts made in North America.

“We will be manufacturing many more cars. And our companies won’t be leaving the United States,” Trump said.

Labor protections

The new agreement requires Mexico to allow more workers to unionize and to lift wages in some instances, specifically for autoworkers.

It also includes measures that prohibit the ability of countries to import goods produced by forced labor.

Go here to read the rest.  Teddy Roosevelt used to say, “Speak softly and carry a big stick!”  With Trump it is, “Bluster loudly and carry a negotiating table.”  Well played, Mr. President, well played.

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bill bannon
bill bannon
Tuesday, October 2, AD 2018 7:34am

In my view, Trump frightened the North Korean leader into becoming amenable to normality. Kim could bully as long as USA leaders were predictable as nice people. Then Trump arrived. Kim smelled Iraq-like regime change…but with nukes. Kim continues to see Trump as strong vis a vis China. He’s never seen that in other presidents in his short life.

Wanda Sherratt
Wanda Sherratt
Tuesday, October 2, AD 2018 8:24am

My husband was reading some of the details of this agreement to me from the paper this morning. (Yes, we’re that old!) He said that there’s a provision that if Canada violates the China restrictions, we can be kicked out of the agreement! It goes to show that Trump has never taken his eyes off the real economic threat: China. It also goes to show just how weak Canada is that we agreed to this provision! Oh well, soon I may not have to drive over the border to get some of those unusual American yogurt flavors, so there is that.

bill bannon
bill bannon
Tuesday, October 2, AD 2018 2:23pm

The ny post gives kudos to Trump also on the Canada/Mexico deals…
https://nypost.com/2018/10/01/nafta-2-0-trump-delivers-on-another-big-promise/

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