Liberals overdue on transparency regarding NAFTA negotiations

OTTAWA – NDP International Trade Critic, Tracey Ramsey is renewing calls for Minister Freeland to be open and transparent with Canadians as the sixth round of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations takes place in Montreal. Ramsey has put forward a motion to the Standing Committee on International Trade inviting the Minister to share the government’s contingency plans if President Trump decides to withdraw from the talks and the free trade agreement.

“The Liberals continue to promise transparency on all trade deals, but Canadians have yet to see this promise fulfilled. Many of our businesses and workers rely on a stable trading relationship with the United States and Mexico, and are very worried,” said Ramsey. “To add to that worry, the government is sending workers mixed messages. Minister Freeland has said they are working on a ‘Plan B’ in case NAFTA talks go sideways, but to date has not been upfront about what that looks like. And her counterpart, Minister Champagne, recently said there was no clear ‘Plan B’ if the deal gets torn up. With so much at stake, Canadians deserve better. We believe the government needs to share their plan with Canadians.”

The Standing Committee will discuss the motion during their first meeting on January 30, 2018 and Ramsey hopes the committee and its Liberal majority will be open to her motion.