It’s reported that US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin urged President Donald Trump to exempt Canada from the steel and aluminum tariffs at a meeting with director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Trade advisor Peter Navarro, trade representative Robert Lighthizer and chief of staff John Kelly. But Mnuchin’s recommendation met opposition from some others in the meeting.
Separately, Kudlow said in on Fox News that Trump is trying to negotiate with Mexico and Canada separately, in bilateral way. But Kudlow emphasized that Trump is “not going to leave NAFTA”, but just “going to try a different approach”. But the idea was shunned by NAFTA counterparts quickly.
Canada International Trade Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said “We want a trilateral agreement – we’ve always said this.” And, “we know it works, we know it underpins a very integrated supply chain. So, when you talk about this issue you have to look at reality – the reality is that over the last 24 years we have built a very integrated supply chain, which has been good for (the) economy, good for consumers, good for workers on all sides.”
Mexico’s Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said NAFTA “has to be a trilateral accord, given the conditions of integration in North America.” And, “it must be that way.
