Modernized NAFTA must support economic integration and global competitiveness

On July 11, CIAC submitted comments to Global Affairs Canada on the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), an agreement that has provided enormous benefit to the chemistry industries in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

CIAC sees modernization of NAFTA as an opportunity to address inefficiencies and upgrade the agreement to reflect technological advances and incorporate procedures adopted or proposed since the agreement came into force in 1994.

“Our overriding objective is for a modernized NAFTA to result in efficiencies that deepen economic integration, and make North America’s co-produced products and services more globally competitive,” says Bob Masterson, CIAC President and CEO.

Modernizing NAFTA should include facilitating digital trade, codifying processes on regulatory coherence and simplification, and enhancing trade and customs facilitation. Several key messages in the submission include:

  • Maintaining free trade (no tariffs). Simplified, clear and predictable rules of origin.
  • Harmonized, simplistic, transparent and streamlined border measures.
  • Strengthen and align the risk- and science-based approach to chemical regulation adopted in Canada and the U.S.

You can read the submission here: http://www.canadianchemistry.ca/library/uploads/CIAC_NAFTA_Submission-Final.pdf