North American Steel Groups Outline NAFTA Renegotiation Recommendations
Trade associations from the U.S., Canada and Mexico are recommending that NAFTA renegotiations include trilateral strengthening of respective trade remedy laws, tools and processes for coordinated enforcement and information sharing, and continued treatment of China as a non-market economy for antidumping duty purposes. In a list of joint recommendations (here), groups including the American Iron and Steel Institute, the Canadian Steel Producers Association, and Canacero, the Mexican Iron and Steel Industry Chamber, also call for improved customs operations, strengthened rules of origin and enhanced regional value content requirements to incentivize investment and job growth in North America.
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New rules for steel-containing goods should ensure North American manufactured goods are built with North American steel, the groups said. Renegotiations should strengthen existing and erect new procedures to address antidumping and countervailing duty orders, “while also facilitating the implementation of third-country dumping actions where appropriate,” the recommendations say. “The three countries should closely collaborate to develop stronger and better-aligned trade remedies to combat unfair trade practices from non-NAFTA countries.”
Talks should also establish enforceable measures on currency manipulation and state-owned enterprises to set a precedent for future trade agreements, the groups said. They said that upgrading port and border-crossing facilities would facilitate efficiencies and limit bottlenecking, and an updated NAFTA should streamline existing customs procedures to ensure the “free, fair and fast flow” of goods. “The North American steel industry views NAFTA as a successful agreement, but after 23 years, one that can also be modernized and strengthened,” the groups said. “Ultimately, the goal should be to grow consumption of steel in North America while increasing intra-NAFTA trade and market share for NAFTA producers.”