Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

FELSTED: Now relax, assured that NAFTA is not dead and is not easy to kill


Let’s try to clear the air a little. In all the press conferences, tweets, media reports, and assessments by various ‘experts’ it’s hard to keep track of reality.

  1. NAFTA is still in force. Nothing has changed. The agreement has not expired or been altered.

  1. Changing the terms of NAFTA, including US withdrawal, requires congressional approval.

  1. The USA and Mexico cannot alter NAFTA without Canada’s consent.

  1. The alleged bi-lateral deal between the US and Mexico is smoke. If it varies from NAFTA terms, NAFTA terms prevail.

  1. Donald Trump has given notice to congress that the US – Mexico terms of agreement will be presented for approval by September 29th.

  1. Congress is unlikely to approve an agreement that does not include Canada. There are too many states that have Canada as their major export market.

US President Donald Trump
  1. Trump’s bluster, bullying, deadlines and threats are tactics to improve the US bargaining position and so far, are not working.

  1. If Trump tries to withdraw from NAFTA, he still has to apply to congress for approval.

  1. Even if Trump secures congressional approval to withdraw from NAFTA he must do so under NAFTA terms.

10.   Norway (June), Russia (July) and China (August) have all applied to the World Trade Organization (WTO) for dispute consultation in respect to US tariffs. It is unlikely that the tariffs will stand.

11.   Current negotiations may or may not result in changes to NAFTA terms. Trump will not make final decisions on NAFTA terms – that is the role of the US congress.  

Now relax and enjoy a wonderful Labour Day long weekend assured that NAFTA is not dead and is not easy to kill.

John Feldsted
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BC cannot regulate, redesign, and reinterpret its way to a stable forestry sector. Communities need clear rules, predictable timelines, and accountability for results.

Photo credit:  Atli Resources LP   BC’s Forestry Crisis Continues with Closure of Beaver Cove Chip Facility   As industry leaders, Indigenous partners, and contractors gather this week at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, the gap between government rhetoric and reality could not be clearer. Just hours after the Eby government once again touted reconciliation, certainty, and economic opportunity under DRIPA, Atli Chip Ltd, a company wholly owned by the ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation, announced it is managing the orderly closure of its Beaver Cove chip facility. The closure comes despite public tax dollars, repeated government announcements, and assurances that new policy frameworks would stabilize forestry employment and create long-term opportunity in rural and coastal British Columbia. “British Columbians are being told one story, while communities are living another,” said Ward Stamer, Critic for Forests. “This closure makes it clear that announcement...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stamer: Hope for Forestry Completely Shattered After Another Provincial Review Driven by DRIPA

IMAGE CREDIT:  Provincial Forestry Advisory Council Conservative Critic for Forests Ward Stamer says the final report from the Provincial Forestry Advisory Council confirms the worst fears of forestry workers and communities; instead of addressing the real issues driving mill closures and job losses, the NDP has produced a report that ignores industry realities and doubles down on governance restructuring. Despite years of warnings from forestry workers, contractors, and industry organizations about permitting delays, regulatory costs, fibre access, and the failure of BC Timber Sales, the PFAC report offers no urgency, no timelines, and no concrete action to stop the ongoing decline of the sector. “ This report completely shatters any remaining hope that the government is serious about saving forestry ,” said Stamer.  “ We didn’t need another study to tell us what industry has been saying for years. While mills close and workers lose their livelihoods, the NDP is focused on re...
Post a Comment
Read more

FORSETH – My question is, ‘How do we decide who is blue enough to be called a Conservative?’

How do we decide who’s blue enough to be a Conservative? AS OF TODAY (Friday January 30 th ), there are now eight individuals who have put their names forward to lead the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Having been involved with BC’s Conservatives since 2010, and having seen MANY ups and downs, having 8 people say “I want to lead the party” is to me, an incredible turn-around from the past. Sadly, however, it seems that our party cannot seem to shake what I, and others, call a purity test of ‘what is a Conservative’. And that seems to have already come to the forefront of the campaign by a couple of candidates. Let me just say as a Conservative Party of BC member, and as someone active in the party, that frustrates me to no end. Conservatives, more than any other political philosophy or belief, at least to me, seems to have the widest and broadest spectrum of ideals.   For the most part, they are anchored by these central thoughts --- smaller and less intru...
1 comment
Read more

Labels

Show more