Joint statement from Ken Neumann, United Steelworkers (USW) National Director for Canada and Leo W. Gerard, USW International President, on the status of North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiations:

"Today's decision by the United States Trade Representative to proceed with a U.S.-Mexico bilateral revision to the North American Free Trade Agreement shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the integration and operation of North America's markets. Rather than rushing to complete a bilateral deal and then seeking to pressure Canada into making unacceptable concessions, the negotiators should have engaged in a more thoughtful, consensus-driven trilateral process.

"Negotiations are about compromise and understanding the fundamental interests of each nation and the need for governments to represent and protect the interests of their citizens. The renegotiation of NAFTA has begun to set the course for a new agreement that can reverse the damage and decimation of the original agreement by promoting labour rights in Mexico, enhancing rules of origin to promote manufacturing and jobs in North America and revising Investor State Dispute Settlement to reduce corporate power. Those positive steps must be buttressed by a trilateral deal that includes all three original parties and that is fully enforceable.

"We urge the Canadian government to work creatively with the other parties to negotiate a new Free Trade Agreement that will truly protect and advance the interests of workers in Canada and across North America."