As US-Canada tensions mount over NAFTA, Mexico remains optimistic

Canada has launched a wide-ranging attack on US trade practices with an international complaint over Washington's use of punitive duties. The US called it ill-advised.

US, Canadian and Mexican officials will meet this month for the sixth and penultimate round of talks to update NAFTA. November 19, 2017
Reuters

US, Canadian and Mexican officials will meet this month for the sixth and penultimate round of talks to update NAFTA. November 19, 2017

In the run-up to the latest North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiations, friction is high between Canada and the US – with Ottawa determined not to bow to the Trump administration's demands, while Mexico opts for a more measured approach.

Irritated by countervailing duties imposed on its exports to the US, Canada has called upon the World Trade Organization (WTO) to denounce protectionist trade practices – which it believes contradict international rules and affect other countries such as China.

"The action of Canada to the WTO is extremely provocative," said Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, given the lurking threat of a US withdrawal from the agreement.

He added the deterioration of Canadian-American relations is "extremely worrying" ahead of the sixth round of talks, which will take place in Montreal between January 23-28.

"The Canadians think the Trump administration only understands strength," he said.

"When people see that you are firm, you get respect," was the take of Canada's international trade minister, Francois-Philippe Champagne.

'Confrontation' stance

According to Champagne, Canada's approach has always been constructive, and it recognises the importance of the US, its primary trade partner.

"But I think the American colleagues understand when you stand strong," he added.

Canada is heading into the new round of negotiations with a "spirit of goodwill" and hopes for "a positive outcome," foreign affairs minister Chrystia Freeland insisted on Thursday.

But she added all parties must have similar goodwill, referencing rumours that the US may pull out of the agreement.

The three countries, in theory, have until the end of March to renegotiate NAFTA, which has been in place since 1994.

On Wednesday, however, a Canadian government source reported Ottawa is bracing for the United States to possibly announce sooner that it will pull out of the trade pact.

"Canada is basically showing confrontation. Canada is sending a hard line signal and the Trump administration doesn't like it," said Monica de Bolle, of the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

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Untouchable Mexican products

Mexico, which has meanwhile adopted a more flexible position, has repeated its aim to find a win-win agreement – and says it is ready to make concessions to achieve this.

"We are optimistic on the possibility of reaching a deal that will benefit all three countries," President Enrique Pena Nieto soothingly reiterated on Thursday.

The developing economy is starting from behind – with 80 percent of its exports destined for the US, NAFTA is vital for Mexico.

But while Trump publicly denounces the huge trade deficit with Mexico (over $64 billion), Canada is actually the country on the receiving end of most US trade complaints.

Despite its low-key approach, however, the stakes are huge for Mexico.

If NAFTA ends, "there is likely to be a significant hit to business confidence, which would weigh on investment and household spending," said consulting firm Capital Economics.

Mexico's central bank warned the same last month, and said the economy was already feeling the pain because of prolonged uncertainty over NAFTA.

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