The next round of the North American Free Trade Agreement discussions are underway in Mexico City today. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross says the U.S. will continue to take a hard line on its trade proposals. National Pork Producers Council Vice President and Counsel for Global Government Affairs Nick Giordano says taking a hard line and threatening to impose a six month termination agreement will lead to collapse of the discussions.
He says if the U.S. withdraws from NAFTA, the cost to the U.S. pork industry will be astronomical based on data compiled by ISU economist Dermot Hayes.
Giordano says U.S. producers are very concerned and worried about the U.S. possibly withdrawing from NAFTA. He says if the U.S. continues to push against the Canadians and Mexicans, they’ll seek other markets as well as trade with each other.
Ross is blaming agriculture calling it a special interest group and says it’s making negotiations more difficult.
