Canada's 10 NAFTA demands: A list of what Canada wants as talks start this week

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland released Canada's list of key demands Monday for a new North American Free Trade Agreement as talks get set to begin in Washington later this week.

Freeland's list, which is much shorter than the U.S. wish list of more than 100 items, includes:

A new chapter on labour standards

The original NAFTA included a labour section as an addendum, inserted into the agreement after Bill Clinton was elected and insisted on a few changes. Some officials in Canada and the U.S. have identified a goal of tougher labour rules: Increasing Mexican wages, to make auto plants in the other countries more affordable.

Chrystia Freeland says NAFTA is important to auto sector

7 years ago

Duration 3:19

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland cites the auto sector as a prime example of how complex and integrated the Canadian and U.S. economies are, during an international trade committee hearing ahead of NAFTA talks beginning later this week.

A new chapter on environmental standards

This was also added as an afterthought to the original NAFTA, placed there after Clinton's election. Freeland says she wants a chapter that ensures no country can weaken environmental protection to attract investment. She also says it should support efforts against climate change.

A new chapter on gender rights

Chrystia Freeland outlines Canada's NAFTA goals

7 years ago

Duration 2:25

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland outlines Canada's priorities for NAFTA during a speech at the University of Ottawa on Monday, ahead of talks beginning later this week.

A new chapter on Indigenous rights

Reforms to the investor-state dispute settlement process

Specifically, Freeland referred to Chapter 11 which involves companies suing governments. She said she wants reforms so that "governments have an unassailable right to regulate in the public interest." This is not to be confused with Chapter 19, which regulates disputes between companies over dumping, in cases like softwood lumber, and which the U.S. administration might seek to eliminate.

Expand procurement

For years, Canada has wanted to kill Buy American rules for construction projects at the state and local level. It could be a tough sell. U.S. lawmakers are demanding even more Buy American rules, which is something President Donald Trump campaigned on. Freeland said: "Local-content provisions for major government contracts are political junk food: superficially appetizing, but unhealthy in the long run."

Freer movement of professionals

NAFTA includes a list of professions where people can easily get a visa to work across the border. It's an old list it mentions land surveyors and range conservationists, but not computer programmers. International companies want this list expanded to make it easier for employees to move between offices.

Protect Canada's supply-management system for dairy and poultry

Canada does not have free trade in these areas, and regulates imports and prices.

Canada 'fully committed' to defending supply management

7 years ago

Duration 5:55

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland tells the international trade committee that her government is "fully committed" to defending supply management during NAFTA negotiations.

Protect cultural exemptions

Canada insisted on protections in the old agreement for cultural industries, like publishing and broadcasting. The U.S.'s annual report on international trade barriers lists this as an irritant.

Maintaining a process to regulate anti-dumping and countervailing disputes, like the one over softwood lumber

Freeland noted that Canada briefly walked out of the original talks in 1987, as this was a deal-breaker. The U.S. says it now wants to get rid of the resulting Chapter 19. Some observers say it might simply be modified.

Softwood negotiations to continue during NAFTA talks

7 years ago

Duration 1:52

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland tells the international trade committee that negotiations over softwood lumber with the United States will continue in parallel with NAFTA talks set to begin this week.