EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT May 18, 2017 ‘The Honorable Charles E. Schumer Democratic Leader United States Senate §-204 The Capitol ‘Washington, DC 20510 Dear Leader Schumer: In accordance with section 105(a)(1)(A) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and ‘Accountability Act of 2015 (the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act), and pursuant to ‘authority delegated to me by the President, Iam pleased to notify the Congress that the President intends to initiate negotiations with Canada snd Mexico regarding modemization ofthe North ‘American Free Trade Agreoment (NAFTA). We will consult closely with Congres developing our negotiating positions to ensure that they are consistent with Congressional priorities and objetives outined in section 102 ofthe Trade Priorities and Accountability Act ‘We intend to initiate negotiations with Canada and Mexico as soon as practicable, but no earlier than 90 days from the date ofthis notice. “The United States seeks to support higher-paying jobs in the United States and to grow the U.S. ‘economy by improving U.S. opportunities under NAFTA, Our specific objectives for this negotiation will comply with the specific objectives set forth by Congress in section 102 ofthe “Trade Priorities and Accountability Act. In particular, we note that NAFTA was negotiated 25 years ago, and while our economy and businesses have changed considerably over that period, NAFTA has not. Many chapters are ‘outdated and do not reflect modem standards. For example, digital trade was in its infaney when NAFTA was enacted, In addition, and consistent with the negotiating objectives in the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act, our aim is that NAFTA be modernized to include new provisions to address intellectual propery rights, regulatory practices, state-owned enterprises, Services, customs procedures, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, labor, environment, and small and mediums enterprises. Moreover, establishing effective implementation and aggressive ‘enforcement of the commitments made by our trading partners under our trade agreements is vital tothe success of those agreements and should be improved in the context of NAFTA. ‘Working closely with Congress and following the requirements of the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act, we will continue to review elements of NAFTA and, where appropriate, "update U.S. approaches to address the challenges faced by U.S. consumers, businesses, farmers, ranchers, and workers in an increasingly global economy. ‘Since the President invited Congressional leaders to begin this process with him on February 2, ‘senior Administration officials have engaged with Congress to solicit views on these matters. We have held initial consultations with Members of the Senate Committee on Finance, the House ‘Commitee on Ways and Means, other relevant Committees, the House Advisory Group on‘Negotiations, the Senate Advisory Group on Negotiations, and other Members of Congress regarding the proposed modernization of NAFTA, We also have held initial consultations with the trade advisory committees, ‘We are commited to concluding these negotiations with timely and substantive results for US. ‘consumers, businesses, farmers, ranchers, and workers, consistent with U.S. priorities and the negotiating objectives established by the Congress in statute. We look forward to continuing to ‘work with the Congress as negotiations with the NAFTA countries begin, and we commit to ‘working with you closely and transparently throughout the process. Sincerely, ‘United States Trade RepresentativeEXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE May 18, 2017 ‘The Honorable Orrin itch, President Pro Tempore United States Senate 104 Hart Office Building ‘Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Hatch ‘In accordance with section 105(a)(1XA) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act), and pursuant 10 athorty delegated to me by the President, Iam pleased to notify the Congress thatthe President {intends to initiate negotiations with Canada and Mexico regarding modernization of the North ‘American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). We will eonsult closely with Congress in ‘developing our negotiating positions to ensure that they are consistent with Congressional fortes and objectives outlined in section 102 ofthe Trade Priorities and Accountability Act We intend to initiate negotiations with Canada and Mexico as soon as practicable, but no earlier ‘than 90 days from the date ofthis notice. “The United States seeks to support higher-paying jobs inthe United States and to grow the U.S. economy by improving U.S. opportunities under NAFTA. Our specific objectives for this ‘egotitin will eomply with the specific objectives set forth by Congress in ston 102 ofthe ‘Trade Priorities and Accountability Act. In particular, we note that NAFTA was negotiated 25 years ago, and while our eeonomy and ‘ucinesses have changed considerably over that period, NAFTA has not. Many chapters are atdated and do not reflect modem standards. For example, digital trade was in its infaney when NAFTA was enacted, In addition, and consistent with the negotiating objectives in the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act, our aim is that NAFTA be modemized to include new provisions to address intelletual property rights, regulatory practices, state-owned enterprises irvices, customs procedures, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, labor, environment, and ‘Soul! and medium enterprises. Moreover, establishing effective implementation and aggressive ‘SMiorcement of the commitments made by our trading partners under our trade agreements is Vital tothe success of those agreements and should be improved in the context of NAFTA, Working closely with Congress and following the requirements of the Trade Priorities and ‘Accouttaility Act, we will continue to review elements of NAFTA an, where appropriatt, tate US. approaches to address the challenges faced by U.S. consumer, businesses, farmers, ranchers, and workers in an increasingly global economy. Since the President invited Congressional leaders to begin this process with him on February 2; ‘enior Administraon officials have engaged with Congress to solicit views on these matters. We hhave held intial consultations with Members of the Senate Committee on Finance, the House Committee on Ways and Means, other relevant Committes, the House Advisory Group on"Negotiations, dhe Senate Advisory Group on Negotiations, and other Members of Congress reading the proposed modernization of NAFTA, We also have eld inital consultations with the trade advisory committees. We are committed to concluding these negotiations with timely and substantive results for US, consumers, businesses, farmers, ranchers, and workers, consistent with U.S. priorities and the segotiating objectives established by the Congress in statute, We Took forward to continuing to ee with the Congress ae negotiations with the NAFTA countries begin, and we commit to YWorking with you closely and transparently throughout the process ‘Sincerely, Rbbert EH United States Trade RepresentativeEXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE May 18, 2017 “The Honorable Paul Ryan Speaker United States House of Representatives 1-232 The Capitol ‘Washington, DC 20515 ‘Dear Speaker Ryan: ‘In accordance with section 105(2)(1(A) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and ‘Aeeountability Act of 2015 (the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act) and pursuant to ‘AMhority delegated fo me by the President, Iam pleased to notify the Congress that che President ‘tends to initiate negotiations with Canada and Mexico regarding modernization of the North ‘American Free Trade Agreement (NAPTA). We will consult closely with Congress in developing our negotiating positions to ensure that they are consistent with Congressional (rons and objectives outlined in section 102 of the Trade Priorities an Accountability Act Welntend to inate negotiations with Canada and Mexico as soon as practicable, but no earier than 90 days from the date ofthis notice, “The Unite States socks to support higher-paying jobs inthe United States and to grow the US. eonomy by improving U.S. opportunities under NAFTA. Our specifi objectives fr this Sevotaton wll comply withthe specific objectives st forth by Congress in section 102 ofthe ‘Trade Priorities and Accountability Act tn particular, we note that NAFTA was negotiated 25 years ago, and while aur esonomy and tajnesses have changed considerably over that period, NAFTA has nol. Many chapters are vested and do not reflect modern standards. For example, digital trade was in ts infaney when NAFTA was enacted, In addition, and consistent with the negotiating objectives in the Trade Pelurtes and Accountability Act, our aim is that NAFTA be modemized to include new provision to addres inellectual propery rights, regulatory practices, state-owned enterprises, rervges, customs procedures, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, labor, environment, and se ard medium enterprises. Moreover, establishing effective implementation and aggressive Sfnrcement of the commitments made by our trading partners under our rade agreements is ital tothe success of those agreements and should be improved inthe context of NAFTA. Working closely with Congress and following the requirements ofthe Trade Priorities and ‘Recountability Act, we will continue to review elements of NAFTA and, where appropriate, “ipdate U.S. approaches to address the challenges faced by US. consumers, businesses, farmers, ranchers, and workers in an ineeasingly global economy. ‘Since the President invited Congressional leaders to begin this process with him on February 2; aoe Aadministration officials have engaged with Congress to solicit views on these matters. We ove held initial consultations with Members ofthe Senate Committee on Finance, the House ‘Comittee on Ways and Means, other relevant Committee, the House Advisory Group on[Negotitions, the Senate Advisory Group on Negotiations, and other Members of Congress Feuaring the proposed moderization of NAFTA. We also have held inital consultations with the trade advisory committees. We are committed to concluding these negotiations wit timely and substantive results for US. Consumers, businesses, farmers, ranchers, and workers, consistent with U.S. priorities and the egotiting abjetives established by the Congress in statute, We Took forward to continuing to ae ke Congress ne negotiations with the NAFTA countries begin, and we commit 10 ‘working with you closely and transparently throughout the process. Sincerely, Robert oo ‘United States Trade RepresentativeEXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE May 18,2017 ‘The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Democratic Leader United States House of Representatives 11-204 The Capitol ‘Washington, DC 20515 ‘Dear Leader Pelosi tn accordance with section 105(a)(1)(A) of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and ‘Rovountablity Act of 2015 (the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act) and pursuant to ‘thority delegated tome by the President, am pleased to notify the Congress that he President Jatends to initiate negotiations with Canada and Mexico regarding modernization of the North ‘American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). We will consult closely with Congress in ‘eveloping our negotiating postions to ensure that they are consistent with Congressional prioties and objectives outlined in section 102 of the Trae Priorities and Accouniablity Act. We intend to inate negotiations with Canada and Mexico as son as practicable, but no earlier ‘than 90 days fom the date ofthis notice “The United States seeks to support higher-paying jobs inthe United States and to grow the U.S. ‘economy by improving U.S. opportunities under NAFTA. Our specific objectives for this ‘Fegotiation will comply wit the specific objetives set forth by Congress in section 102 ofthe "Trade Priorities and Accountability Act. In particular, we note that NAFTA was negofited 25 years ago, and while our esonomy and adinesses have changed considerably over that period, NAFTA has not. Many chapters are renee and de not refleet modern standards. For example, digital trade was in its infaney when NAFTA was enacted. In addition, and consistent with the negotiating objectives in the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act, our aim i that NAFTA be modemized to include new ‘provisions fo address intellectual property rights, regulatory practices, state-owned enterprises, revvices, customs procedures sanitary and phytosanitary measures, aber, environment, and eral and medium enterprises. Moreover, establishing effective implementation and aggressive nforcement of the commitments made by our trading partners under our trade agreements is ital tothe success of those agreements and should be improved in the context of NAFTA, ‘Working closely with Congress and following the requirements of the Trade Priorities and ‘Naumumtablity Act, we wil continue to review elements of NAFTA and, where appropriate, “ipdate U.S. approaches to address the challenges faced by U.S, consumers, businesses, farmers, ranchers, and workers in an increasingly global economy. ‘Since the President invited Congressional leaders to begin this process with him on February 2; anor Administration officials have engaged with Congress to solicit views on these matters. We have held intial eonsultetions with Members of the Senate Committee on Finance, the House Committee on Ways and Means, other relevant Committees, the House Advisory Group on"Negotiations, the Senate Advisory Group on Negotiations, and other Members of Congress regarding the proposed modernization of NAFTA. We also have held initial consultations with the trade advisory committees ‘Weare commited to concluding these negotiations with timely and substantive results for US. consumers, businesses, farmers ranchers, aad workers, consistent with U.S priorities and the negotiating objectives established by the Congress in statute. We look forward to continuing to paar nth the Congress aa negotiations with the NAFTA. countries hogin, and we commit to ‘working with you closely and transparently throughout the process. Sincerely, eke Lt United States Trade Representative