Ambassador Lighthizer Visits Congress To Discuss The President’s Trade Policy Agenda -

In June, the Senate Finance Committee and Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives held hearings on the new administration’s trade policy agenda. During the hearings, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer and members of Congress discussed key issues at the forefront of the new administration’s U.S. trade agenda that will have a significant impact on the U.S. economy, the United States’ relationship with key trading partners, and U.S. manufacturers. These issues include the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), U.S. jobs, and ensuring that other countries follow international trade rules.

Ambassador Lighthizer’s Testimony -

In his prepared remarks for both the Senate Finance Committee and the Ways and Means Committee, Ambassador Lighthizer emphasized the renegotiation of NAFTA. Ambassador Lighthizer stated that his office “is talking to stakeholders, [Congressional] staff, and the public to help us develop our policy outcomes for the negotiations. USTR is reviewing the more than 12,400 comments received from everyday Americans during the open-comment process. . . . My staff is now busy reviewing and analyzing those comments, in order to help formulate our positions on how to improve the NAFTA.” He added that “we will be publishing a detailed summary of the negotiating objectives at least 30 days before the negotiations begin.” On May 18, and as required by law, Ambassador Lighthizer provided a 90-day notice to Congress of the administration’s intent to renegotiate NAFTA. This means that negotiations can begin as early as August.