House Lawmakers Urge Lighthizer to Consider North American Energy Independence in NAFTA Renegotiation

A bipartisan group of 60 House lawmakers in a May 30 letter urged U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to consider the absence of tariffs on "energy products," access to North American energy markets, and general policies to maintain and upgrade the free flow of raw and refined products during the upcoming NAFTA renegotiation. “NAFTA has set the stage for North America to be truly energy independent,” the lawmakers wrote. Since the agreement entered into force, the U.S. has become the world’s top producer of oil and natural gas, Mexico opened its energy industry to foreign investment for the first time in more than 75 years, and Canada has become a top-five producer of energy due to investment in oil sands, liquefied natural gas, and energy infrastructure projects, they wrote. “Given the strategic and economic relationship with Canada and Mexico, the United States is better off securing its energy supplies on the continent than from less reliable sources,” the letter says.