Republican Governors Meet VP About NAFTA

Four Republican Governors met with Vice President Mike Pence last week to discuss their concerns about the NAFTA negotiations.  The meetings included Governors Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Rick Snyder of Michigan, Bill Haslam of Tennessee, and Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas.  Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Trade Rep Robert Lighthizer were also in attendance.  Hutchison wants the U.S. to make sure it doesn’t harm agriculture and global trade while it updates NAFTA.

“The administration was clear that it wants to be able to negotiate a better deal for American manufacturers and workers,” Hutchinson said after the meeting. “I respect that position, but my message is that we must be able to access North American markets unimpeded by trade barriers.”

Earlier in the week, Indiana Governor Rob Holcomb brought along representatives from the auto industry to meet with Pence.  Like agriculture, they also want the administration to make sure they keep access to North American markets open.

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