CEO DATELINE - Business groups launch campaign to save NAFTA
CEO DATELINE - Business groups launch campaign to save NAFTA
- January 25, 2018 |
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Walt Williams
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Four groups representing farmers, manufacturers and businesses have unveiled a new campaign to advocate for the preservation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which President Donald Trump has threatened to scrap.
"Trade for America" will "highlight the economic and strategic benefits of trade in the daily lives of Americans," the groups said on the campaign website. The American Farm Bureau Federation, Business Roundtable, National Association of Manufacturers and U.S. Chamber of Commerce are the groups behind the campaign. http://bit.ly/2E7PNeL
"While all of these groups have their own independent trade education efforts that they've been pursuing for an extended period of time we felt it was just absolutely critical that we amplify our voice," Bill Lane, executive director of Trade for America, told The Hill newspaper.
Trump has been deeply critical of NAFTA as a bad deal for U.S. workers. The U.S. currently is renegotiating the terms of the agreement with Canada and Mexico, but the president has threatened to withdraw from the treaty if the U.S. does not get better terms.
Many farmers rely on NAFTA, given that a significant portion of crops are exported. Manufacturers, retailers and many other businesses also have benefited from the agreement.
"We've said it before, and it's worth saying again: If the U.S. isn't leading on trade, we're falling behind," said Thomas Donohue, CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, told The Hill.
Trade for America is not the first joint effort launched by associations this year to advocate for NAFTA. More than 30 groups announced the formation of Americans for Farmers and Families coalition Jan. 19 to make the case for why the U.S. should remain in the agreement. http://bit.ly/2Dz6sqx
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