PNWER Releases NAFTA Resolution

SEATTLE. – The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) Delegate Council comprised of bipartisan legislators from the U.S. and Canada has just released a resolution on the North American Free Trade Agreement urging the U.S. and Canadian federal governments to support the North American economy and modernize NAFTA in a way that strengthens and mutually benefits both economies.

“NAFTA is important to our region’s economy, especially agriculture, and needs to be modernized. Walking away from NAFTA would have serious impacts to our integrated supply chains between the US and Canada, would result in loss of jobs, and would reduce our ability to compete in global markets.” said Matt Morrison, Executive Director of PNWER.
Canada is the United States’ largest export market, valued at US$320 billion in goods and services and the United States is Canada’s largest export market, valued at US$308 billion in goods and services, supporting 9 million jobs in the U.S., and 2.1 million jobs in Canada. In 2016, two-way trade within the PNWER region (AK, WA, OR, ID, MT and BC, AB, SK, NT, YK) totaled US$1.7 billion. (Specific export data to Canada by state and US congressional district, is available here.) 
PNWER conducted a survey of key regional U.S. and Canadian industries, businesses, and stakeholders to develop a list of recommendations and overarching principles for a modernized NAFTA. The results of the survey were provided to both federal governments and can be viewed at www.pnwer.org/nafta-modernization.

Resolution on Modernized North American Free Trade Agreement

WHEREAS, the United States and Canada have one of the largest trading relationships in the world, and Canada is the United States’ largest export market, valued at CDN$411 billion/US$320 billion in goods and services and the United States is Canada’s largest export market, valued at CDN$396 billion/US$308 billion in goods and services; and

WHEREAS, the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) believes that free, fair, open and mutually beneficial trade between our two countries will continue to strengthen the economies of both countries; and

WHEREAS, in 2016, trade between the United States and Canada totaled over CDN$2.2 billion/US$1.7 billion in goods and services every day, supporting 9 million jobs in the U.S., and 2.1 million jobs in Canada; and

WHEREAS, in 2016, two-way trade within the PNWER region totaled CDN$29 billion/US$22.6 billion, supporting jobs linked through various integrated regional supply chains, with CDN$9.3 billion/US$7.3 billion in goods and services exported to Canadian PNWER jurisdictions from the U.S. PNWER jurisdictions and CDN$19.7 billion/US$15.3 billion exported from Canadian PNWER jurisdictions to U.S. PNWER jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, in the more than 20 years since the three countries entered into the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), North American trade has tripled from CDN$437 billion/US$340 billion (in 1993) to CDN$1.5 trillion/US$1.2 trillion (in 2016); and

WHEREAS, North American integration under NAFTA has helped to make the region more competitive in the world economy by providing highly integrated and valuable supply chains, common rules and harmonized regulations that increase the speed and global competitiveness of our businesses, driving investment and imbedding value in each other’s economic success, and providing jobs in North American communities that depend on efficient and effective supply chains; and

WHEREAS, Addressing North America’s economic challenges requires a common understanding of competitiveness and the true underpinnings of prosperity. We define competitiveness as follows. A nation is competitive to the extent that firms operating there can compete successfully in domestic and international markets while also lifting the living standards of the average citizen. Competitiveness must lead to shared prosperity, in which all North Americans have the opportunity to advance economically.

WHEREAS, increased economic integration and ease of cross-border trade within various sectors such as services, manufacturing, energy, and agriculture, have contributed to stable and reliable economic relations as well as prosperity and jobs on both sides of the border; and

WHEREAS, Canada and the U.S. both support making targeted improvements to NAFTA that build on the enormously successful North American partnership and our shared competitiveness in the global marketplace; now therefore be it
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RESOLVED, that the PNWER organization supports the modernization of NAFTA to enhance the existing economic relationships within PNWER jurisdictions in a mutually beneficial manner; and be it further

RESOLVED, that PNWER continues to encourage our countries to respect the spirit of NAFTA by promoting policies that support and enhance the integrated nature of our supply chains and economies that provide jobs in our respective communities; and be it further

RESOLVED, that PNWER supports improvements that enhance the commitment and the success for all parties of NAFTA; and be it further

RESOLVED, that PNWER members encourage their federal governments to strive towards a modernized NAFTA that builds upon its current success to further enhance trade and investment in North America

RESOLVED,  that this resolution be submitted to appropriate provincial, state, territorial and federal officials.