Harper ‘Delighted’ at Not Having to Reopen NAFTA

(AFP)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Tuesday he was “delighted” by a U.S. decision not to reopen the North American Free Trade Agreement to press for tougher labor and environmental protections.

“We’re delighted with this decision from the Americans,” Harper told a press conference during a visit to Jamaica, televised in Canada. “We can always improve on things, but it is essential to discuss the future and not review decisions taken in the past,” he said.

The 1994 trade pact created the largest trading bloc in the world by eliminating import tariffs on goods circulating among partners Canada, the United States and Mexico. During last year’s election campaign, then U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama often criticized the free trade pact and hinted that he might renegotiate it to include labor and environmental safeguards that would be enforced.

But Canada and Mexico were wary of reopening trade negotiations. “Once we re-open it, it would be very hard to get that cat back in the bag,” Harper explained.

On Monday, U.S. Trade Representative Ronald Kirk said after returning from a weekend Summit of the Americas in Trinidad that U.S. concerns “can be addressed without having to reopen the agreement.” Read more here.