Canada

Even as U.S. industry groups applauded the signing of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on Friday, they made clear their continued frustration that Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports remained.

BUENOS AIRES -- U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is confident the trilateral trade deal inked by the U.S., Mexico and Canada will garner enough support in Congress -- and he is adamant that “a very high number of Democrats” will vote for the implementing legislation.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called GM's recent plant closings a “heavy blow,” adding, “and Donald, it's all the more reason why we need to keep working to remove the tariffs on steel and aluminum between our countries.”

BUENOS AIRES – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be signed on Friday without the countries reaching a resolution on Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs, sources tell Inside U.S. Trade, though trade ministers worked through the night on the issue.

“For the sake of Canada’s dairy sector, and its overall sovereignty, we ask that you please reconsider until the issue of U.S. oversight can be properly addressed.”

Technology organizations and analysts say the digital trade chapter of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is unlikely to require many legal changes, contending it is designed to handle future barriers to digital trade instead.

“Our industries want to support this new agreement when it faces Congressional review, but that depends heavily on having an overall package that benefits, rather than harms, our long-term ability to survive in a global economy.”

National Foreign Trade Council President Rufus Yerxa said Thursday that the business community supports the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and indicated the group would begin its lobbying efforts on behalf of the deal soon.