US No Longer Needs Inappropriate Metals Tariffs As NAFTA Negotiating Tactic

Ratifying the new North American trade pact will need to address the trade issues that have plagued Foreign Minister Christia Freeland's trip to the NATO summit in Washington.

Whether it is the Trump administration's "improper" imposition of metal tariffs as leverage in the controversial renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or the "Pandora's Box" that will open seeking to change the deal, Freeland has made it clear what recent obstacles to the continent's New Trade Treaty remain dangerous. ...

Freeland conveyed this message to Washington on Thursday, where the continued existence of US duties on steel and aluminum dominated discussions ahead of the NATO summit she attended, leading to further uncertainty about the fate of a new trade agreement signed by Canada, the United States and Mexico in the past are falling, but have not yet been ratified in their legislatures.

Freeland said the Americans misapplied tariffs in the first place last spring as leverage in protracted NAFTA negotiations. And they are no longer needed because the three countries of the continent have now made a deal.

They make the ratification of the new trade pact in North America unpleasant for many Canadians, she said.

President Donald Trump promulgated a US trade law provision known as Section 232, which allows the president to impose tariffs for reasons of national security.

At the time, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the Trump administration was suspending the 232 exemptions for Canada and Mexico, imposing a 25 percent duty on steel and 10 percent on aluminum because the NAFTA negotiations were too long.

“As for Canada, Mexico, you remember that the reason for the postponement was the anticipation of the outcome of the NAFTA negotiations,” Ross said. "These negotiations are taking longer than we hoped."

Freeland argued that this is now a controversial issue, because all three countries have completed negotiations.

“Now 232 was never meant to be used as any kind of lever. That would be very misuse, ”Freeland said Thursday, adding that the Americans“ made it very clear that this was exactly what was intended ”when the tariffs were introduced.

“How can this be relevant today when it comes to Canada? The deal has been completed. No more leverage is needed, ”Freeland said. "So, both from a national security standpoint and from the standpoint that 232 might have some sort of negotiating purpose, we really think it's groundless."

Freeland and the Trudeau government declared the tariffs illegal and absurd.

Minister will speak