Houston Chronicle

U.S., Mexico closing in on NAFTA deal

Negotiatio­ns coming to an end, sources say; Canada left out

- By Eric Martin and Jenny Leonard

The U.S. and Mexico are in the final stages of negotiatin­g a deal on rules for cars sold under NAFTA, one of the biggest sticking points in discussion­s to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement, according to five people familiar with the talks.

The two sides have exchanged new proposals for the auto industry, and Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo is scheduled to travel to Washington on Thursday for meetings with U.S. Trade Representa­tive Robert Lighthizer, his second visit in as many weeks, according to two of the people who asked not to be identified discussing private negotiatio­ns. The people declined to discuss the content of the proposals and said that no agreement has yet been reached.

Mexico in May told the U.S. that it could be flexible on automotive wages and content, including acceptance of a requiremen­t that at least 20 percent of a car's value would come from higher-paid workers, in exchange for President Donald Trump's negotiator­s withdrawin­g some of their other tougher demands. At the time, Lighthizer said the proposal wasn't enough for the U.S., which had previously demanded that 40 percent of a car, and 45 percent of trucks, be made by workers earning wages of at least $16 per hour.

Offers on regional content weren't that far apart. While Mexico was willing to accept 70 percent of car components coming from the U.S., up from the current 62.5 percent, the U.S. called for 75 percent. Trump has threatened to impose sweeping new tariffs on imported vehicles in a possible attempt to pressure Mexico and Canada into striking a deal that would help drive manufactur­ing jobs back to the U.S.

A spokeswoma­n for Lighthizer, declined to comment on the automotive negotiatio­ns. The press office of Mexico's economy ministry didn't immediatel­y comment.

The talks have taken on a largely two-nation format, with Canada rebuffed in recent attempts to engage with Lighthizer, according to three other people with knowledge of the talks, who also asked not to be named. The Canadian negotiatin­g team led by Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland has been told that the U.S. is focusing on negotiatio­ns with Mexico and isn't interested in engaging with Canada at the moment, according to the people.

Davis said Lighthizer “has great respect for Minister Freeland and considers her a good friend,” pointing out that the NAFTA negotiatio­ns have had both bilateral and trilateral meetings over the past year.

“In every meeting arrangemen­t, the United States is focused on completing the best possible trade deal as quickly as we can,” Davis said in an emailed response to questions.

While the three nations have remained far apart on several major points for almost a year after the negotiatio­ns began, Trump said earlier this month that he's heading toward a “dramatic” deal with Mexico and that he may prioritize bilateral trade talks with the southern neighbor over Canada. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Monday that negotiatio­ns with Mexico are going well and may be close to wrapping up.

Trump has blamed low-cost Mexican production for the outsourcin­g of U.S. manufactur­ing jobs south of the border, a key motivation for his demand to renegotiat­e the 24-year-old pact. U.S. proposals have sought to increase Mexican salaries and provide incentives for auto manufactur­ers to either move production back to America — or at least stop investing so much south of the border.

 ?? Susana Gonzalez / Bloomberg file ?? Workers assemble Kia vehicles at the company’s plant in Pesqueria, Mexico, in 2016. One of President Donald Trump’s goals in the NAFTA negotiatio­ns is to boost pay for Mexican workers.
Susana Gonzalez / Bloomberg file Workers assemble Kia vehicles at the company’s plant in Pesqueria, Mexico, in 2016. One of President Donald Trump’s goals in the NAFTA negotiatio­ns is to boost pay for Mexican workers.

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