Is Essex MP Tracey Ramsey nervous about talks to replace the current North American Free Trade Agreement?
She would tell you, yes.
However, the New Democratic Party's critic for international trade insisted she is confident a deal can be reached, and a good deal at that. NAFTA talks resume Wednesday in Washington, and Ramsey called on Canada's negotiating team to resist the rhetoric coming from the American president. Initially, U.S. President Trump had wanted Canada to sign on by last Friday, but that was before a bombshell Toronto Star report detailing off-the-record comments he made to Bloomberg reporters that the U.S. would not compromise and that Canada could take the deal or leave it.
Trump had said if Canada did not sign on by the end of last week, his country would go it alone with Mexico in a bilateral deal, and Canadian automakers would face tariffs on imported parts and vehicles. By the end of the day on Friday, the tone had changed.
"This imposed deadline last week was something that was rejected by the Canadians... I think it will ultimately give us better results," said Ramsey while taking part in this year's Labour Day celebrations in Windsor. "We need to slow things down a bit.
"We cannot leave all of the issues on the table that we did 25 years ago that have caused us incredible harm in both of our countries," she said. "In particular, the environment. The U.S. is certainly going in a different direction when it comes to protecting the environment."
Trump has not been the Trudeau government's only critic in handling trade negotiations. Despite an all-party motion to support the negotiators, federal Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre has suggested trade talks have had difficulties while the prime minister vacationed, and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper suggested the Trudeau Liberals have been napping.
Ramsey said political manoeuvring by the Conservatives on the talks could be dangerous.
"I think it doesn't help, but ultimately we are doing our best to support the government in their efforts," she said of her party.
The supply-management system for Canadian dairy and the mechanism in the agreement to resolve disputes remain sticking points in talks.
