December 7, 2018

Canada, the United States and Mexico sign new trade agreement

The new agreement to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico was signed by the leaders of the three countries last Friday.

The agreement preserves Canada's preferential access to the U.S. and Mexican markets, ensuring that the vast majority of trilateral trade remains duty-free. The agreement includes an exemption for a significant quantity of Canadian automobiles and auto parts from potential future U.S. 232 tariff measures.

In addition, Canada succeeded in preserving key elements of the original NAFTA, including the cultural exemption and the use of binational panels to resolve disputes on duties.

Canada, the United States and Mexico will now move forward with their respective domestic procedures toward the ratification and implementation of the new trade agreement.

Link: Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement