EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
May 18, 2017
‘The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
Democratic Leader
United States Senate
§-204 The Capitol
‘Washington, DC 20510
Dear Leader Schumer:
In accordance with section 105(a)(1)(A) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and
‘Accountability Act of 2015 (the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act), and pursuant to
‘authority delegated to me by the President, Iam pleased to notify the Congress that the President
intends to initiate negotiations with Canada snd Mexico regarding modemization ofthe North
‘American Free Trade Agreoment (NAFTA). We will consult closely with Congres
developing our negotiating positions to ensure that they are consistent with Congressional
priorities and objetives outined in section 102 ofthe Trade Priorities and Accountability Act
‘We intend to initiate negotiations with Canada and Mexico as soon as practicable, but no earlier
than 90 days from the date ofthis notice.
“The United States seeks to support higher-paying jobs in the United States and to grow the U.S.
‘economy by improving U.S. opportunities under NAFTA, Our specific objectives for this
negotiation will comply with the specific objectives set forth by Congress in section 102 ofthe
“Trade Priorities and Accountability Act.
In particular, we note that NAFTA was negotiated 25 years ago, and while our economy and
businesses have changed considerably over that period, NAFTA has not. Many chapters are
‘outdated and do not reflect modem standards. For example, digital trade was in its infaney when
NAFTA was enacted, In addition, and consistent with the negotiating objectives in the Trade
Priorities and Accountability Act, our aim is that NAFTA be modernized to include new
provisions to address intellectual propery rights, regulatory practices, state-owned enterprises,
Services, customs procedures, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, labor, environment, and
small and mediums enterprises. Moreover, establishing effective implementation and aggressive
‘enforcement of the commitments made by our trading partners under our trade agreements is
vital tothe success of those agreements and should be improved in the context of NAFTA.
‘Working closely with Congress and following the requirements of the Trade Priorities and
Accountability Act, we will continue to review elements of NAFTA and, where appropriate,
"update U.S. approaches to address the challenges faced by U.S. consumers, businesses, farmers,
ranchers, and workers in an increasingly global economy.
‘Since the President invited Congressional leaders to begin this process with him on February 2,
‘senior Administration officials have engaged with Congress to solicit views on these matters. We
have held initial consultations with Members of the Senate Committee on Finance, the House
‘Commitee on Ways and Means, other relevant Committees, the House Advisory Group on‘Negotiations, the Senate Advisory Group on Negotiations, and other Members of Congress
regarding the proposed modernization of NAFTA, We also have held initial consultations with
the trade advisory committees,
‘We are commited to concluding these negotiations with timely and substantive results for US.
‘consumers, businesses, farmers, ranchers, and workers, consistent with U.S. priorities and the
negotiating objectives established by the Congress in statute. We look forward to continuing to
‘work with the Congress as negotiations with the NAFTA countries begin, and we commit to
‘working with you closely and transparently throughout the process.
Sincerely,
‘United States Trade RepresentativeEXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
May 18, 2017
‘The Honorable Orrin itch,
President Pro Tempore
United States Senate
104 Hart Office Building
‘Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Hatch
‘In accordance with section 105(a)(1XA) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and
Accountability Act of 2015 (the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act), and pursuant 10
athorty delegated to me by the President, Iam pleased to notify the Congress thatthe President
{intends to initiate negotiations with Canada and Mexico regarding modernization of the North
‘American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). We will eonsult closely with Congress in
‘developing our negotiating positions to ensure that they are consistent with Congressional
fortes and objectives outlined in section 102 ofthe Trade Priorities and Accountability Act
We intend to initiate negotiations with Canada and Mexico as soon as practicable, but no earlier
‘than 90 days from the date ofthis notice.
“The United States seeks to support higher-paying jobs inthe United States and to grow the U.S.
economy by improving U.S. opportunities under NAFTA. Our specific objectives for this
‘egotitin will eomply with the specific objectives set forth by Congress in ston 102 ofthe
‘Trade Priorities and Accountability Act.
In particular, we note that NAFTA was negotiated 25 years ago, and while our eeonomy and
‘ucinesses have changed considerably over that period, NAFTA has not. Many chapters are
atdated and do not reflect modem standards. For example, digital trade was in its infaney when
NAFTA was enacted, In addition, and consistent with the negotiating objectives in the Trade
Priorities and Accountability Act, our aim is that NAFTA be modemized to include new
provisions to address intelletual property rights, regulatory practices, state-owned enterprises
irvices, customs procedures, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, labor, environment, and
‘Soul! and medium enterprises. Moreover, establishing effective implementation and aggressive
‘SMiorcement of the commitments made by our trading partners under our trade agreements is
Vital tothe success of those agreements and should be improved in the context of NAFTA,
Working closely with Congress and following the requirements of the Trade Priorities and
‘Accouttaility Act, we will continue to review elements of NAFTA an, where appropriatt,
tate US. approaches to address the challenges faced by U.S. consumer, businesses, farmers,
ranchers, and workers in an increasingly global economy.
Since the President invited Congressional leaders to begin this process with him on February 2;
‘enior Administraon officials have engaged with Congress to solicit views on these matters. We
hhave held intial consultations with Members of the Senate Committee on Finance, the House
Committee on Ways and Means, other relevant Committes, the House Advisory Group on"Negotiations, dhe Senate Advisory Group on Negotiations, and other Members of Congress
reading the proposed modernization of NAFTA, We also have eld inital consultations with
the trade advisory committees.
We are committed to concluding these negotiations with timely and substantive results for US,
consumers, businesses, farmers, ranchers, and workers, consistent with U.S. priorities and the
segotiating objectives established by the Congress in statute, We Took forward to continuing to
ee with the Congress ae negotiations with the NAFTA countries begin, and we commit to
YWorking with you closely and transparently throughout the process
‘Sincerely,
Rbbert EH
United States Trade RepresentativeEXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
May 18, 2017
“The Honorable Paul Ryan
Speaker
United States House of Representatives
1-232 The Capitol
‘Washington, DC 20515
‘Dear Speaker Ryan:
‘In accordance with section 105(2)(1(A) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and
‘Aeeountability Act of 2015 (the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act) and pursuant to
‘AMhority delegated fo me by the President, Iam pleased to notify the Congress that che President
‘tends to initiate negotiations with Canada and Mexico regarding modernization of the North
‘American Free Trade Agreement (NAPTA). We will consult closely with Congress in
developing our negotiating positions to ensure that they are consistent with Congressional
(rons and objectives outlined in section 102 of the Trade Priorities an Accountability Act
Welntend to inate negotiations with Canada and Mexico as soon as practicable, but no earier
than 90 days from the date ofthis notice,
“The Unite States socks to support higher-paying jobs inthe United States and to grow the US.
eonomy by improving U.S. opportunities under NAFTA. Our specifi objectives fr this
Sevotaton wll comply withthe specific objectives st forth by Congress in section 102 ofthe
‘Trade Priorities and Accountability Act
tn particular, we note that NAFTA was negotiated 25 years ago, and while aur esonomy and
tajnesses have changed considerably over that period, NAFTA has nol. Many chapters are
vested and do not reflect modern standards. For example, digital trade was in ts infaney when
NAFTA was enacted, In addition, and consistent with the negotiating objectives in the Trade
Pelurtes and Accountability Act, our aim is that NAFTA be modemized to include new
provision to addres inellectual propery rights, regulatory practices, state-owned enterprises,
rervges, customs procedures, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, labor, environment, and
se ard medium enterprises. Moreover, establishing effective implementation and aggressive
Sfnrcement of the commitments made by our trading partners under our rade agreements is
ital tothe success of those agreements and should be improved inthe context of NAFTA.
Working closely with Congress and following the requirements ofthe Trade Priorities and
‘Recountability Act, we will continue to review elements of NAFTA and, where appropriate,
“ipdate U.S. approaches to address the challenges faced by US. consumers, businesses, farmers,
ranchers, and workers in an ineeasingly global economy.
‘Since the President invited Congressional leaders to begin this process with him on February 2;
aoe Aadministration officials have engaged with Congress to solicit views on these matters. We
ove held initial consultations with Members ofthe Senate Committee on Finance, the House
‘Comittee on Ways and Means, other relevant Committee, the House Advisory Group on[Negotitions, the Senate Advisory Group on Negotiations, and other Members of Congress
Feuaring the proposed moderization of NAFTA. We also have held inital consultations with
the trade advisory committees.
We are committed to concluding these negotiations wit timely and substantive results for US.
Consumers, businesses, farmers, ranchers, and workers, consistent with U.S. priorities and the
egotiting abjetives established by the Congress in statute, We Took forward to continuing to
ae ke Congress ne negotiations with the NAFTA countries begin, and we commit 10
‘working with you closely and transparently throughout the process.
Sincerely,
Robert oo
‘United States Trade RepresentativeEXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
May 18,2017
‘The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Democratic Leader
United States House of Representatives
11-204 The Capitol
‘Washington, DC 20515
‘Dear Leader Pelosi
tn accordance with section 105(a)(1)(A) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and
‘Rovountablity Act of 2015 (the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act) and pursuant to
‘thority delegated tome by the President, am pleased to notify the Congress that he President
Jatends to initiate negotiations with Canada and Mexico regarding modernization of the North
‘American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). We will consult closely with Congress in
‘eveloping our negotiating postions to ensure that they are consistent with Congressional
prioties and objectives outlined in section 102 of the Trae Priorities and Accouniablity Act.
We intend to inate negotiations with Canada and Mexico as son as practicable, but no earlier
‘than 90 days fom the date ofthis notice
“The United States seeks to support higher-paying jobs inthe United States and to grow the U.S.
‘economy by improving U.S. opportunities under NAFTA. Our specific objectives for this
‘Fegotiation will comply wit the specific objetives set forth by Congress in section 102 ofthe
"Trade Priorities and Accountability Act.
In particular, we note that NAFTA was negofited 25 years ago, and while our esonomy and
adinesses have changed considerably over that period, NAFTA has not. Many chapters are
renee and de not refleet modern standards. For example, digital trade was in its infaney when
NAFTA was enacted. In addition, and consistent with the negotiating objectives in the Trade
Priorities and Accountability Act, our aim i that NAFTA be modemized to include new
‘provisions fo address intellectual property rights, regulatory practices, state-owned enterprises,
revvices, customs procedures sanitary and phytosanitary measures, aber, environment, and
eral and medium enterprises. Moreover, establishing effective implementation and aggressive
nforcement of the commitments made by our trading partners under our trade agreements is
ital tothe success of those agreements and should be improved in the context of NAFTA,
‘Working closely with Congress and following the requirements of the Trade Priorities and
‘Naumumtablity Act, we wil continue to review elements of NAFTA and, where appropriate,
“ipdate U.S. approaches to address the challenges faced by U.S, consumers, businesses, farmers,
ranchers, and workers in an increasingly global economy.
‘Since the President invited Congressional leaders to begin this process with him on February 2;
anor Administration officials have engaged with Congress to solicit views on these matters. We
have held intial eonsultetions with Members of the Senate Committee on Finance, the House
Committee on Ways and Means, other relevant Committees, the House Advisory Group on"Negotiations, the Senate Advisory Group on Negotiations, and other Members of Congress
regarding the proposed modernization of NAFTA. We also have held initial consultations with
the trade advisory committees
‘Weare commited to concluding these negotiations with timely and substantive results for US.
consumers, businesses, farmers ranchers, aad workers, consistent with U.S priorities and the
negotiating objectives established by the Congress in statute. We look forward to continuing to
paar nth the Congress aa negotiations with the NAFTA. countries hogin, and we commit to
‘working with you closely and transparently throughout the process.
Sincerely,
eke Lt
United States Trade Representative