The Trump Administration this week signaled that it may be on the cusp of notifying Congress that it intends to open discussions with Canada and Mexico to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Trump had signaled his intention to re-open NAFTA on the campaign trail.
The announcement comes on the heels of survey results released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Morning Consult that shows a majority of voters feel foreign trade is good for the country.
That survey queried just over 10,000 registered voters during the first week in May, with 70 percent of those surveyed indicating trade with other nations can strengthen the U.S. economy.
“American voters support trade because they see its effects in their lives every day,” U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President Myron Brilliant, who also serves as head of international affairs for the chamber, said in a release. “From the goods and services their companies produce to the products they buy at the grocery store, trade supports good American jobs, enhances consumer choice, and drives economic growth.”
Approximately two thirds of the respondents agreed that global trade helps to creates jobs (64 percent); is good for consumers (65 percent); and helps farmers (66 percent), as well as positively affecting domestic businesses (71 percent).
The chamber said the survey underscores the initiative for the federal government to consider expanding global marketplace opportunities for American business owners, with 62 percent of those queried supporting growth in that sector.
Retired Army Capt. James McCormick, a bronze and silver star recipient and program director for Vets4Energy, pointed out another area in which NAFTA has benefited the country: Energy policy.
“North America is on the verge of becoming energy independent. And by North America, I mean the U.S., Canada and Mexico," said McCormick. "Just a decade ago this was unthinkable, but now, it could happen as soon as 2020. And much of that is surprisingly because of our energy trading with our neighbors to the north and south."
McCormick, who served in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, said that being able to rely less on foreign regimes who don't share "our values" allows him to "sleep better at night."
“We might buy heavy crude oil from Mexico, and then sell it back to them as refined gasoline," he said. "We might trade electricity with Canada daily depending on who needs it right now. And Canada continues to be our largest source of imported oil."
“Knowing who your allies are, and treating them right and fairly, is what energy security and global strength is all about," he concluded.
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