NAFTA renegotiation is underway. The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has opened negotiations up to comment by entities affected by NAFTA. The deadline for comments is June 12, 2017. As your partner and colleague, Co-Production International encourages you to let the U.S. government know how NAFTA works for you and what changes you would like to see.

DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
THE PERIOD FOR COMMENTS ENDS ON JUNE 12, 2017.

Suggested Steps for Providing a Formal Comment

Note: You may provide both public and confidential comments by marking them as such.

1. Evaluate NAFTA’s Current Rules for Your Company – IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK!

a. Review and provide details on duties saved, duties spent, costing, competitiveness, etc.
b. What duties are you saving by participating in NAFTA? Perform a cost benefit analysis for your company under current NAFTA rules. Look at the last year of financial statements. Consider 5 and 10-year projections.
c. How much could your company save on duties if your Rules of Origin were modified?
d. Would losing NAFTA impact your ability to do manufacturing in North America? Would you have higher costs, become less competitive, would you leave North America, etc.?

2. What is your company’s position with your industry/product Rules of Origin?

a. Do you want to make the rule harder?
Increase NAFTA content requirements, cite more components to included/excluded, require more North American content, etc.
b. Do you like the status quo?
If you like how the current rules of origin are for your products or industry, say so! Back it up with evidence.
c. Do you want to make the rule harder?
Do you have difficulty qualifying under current NAFTA rules of origin? What barriers do you want removed?

3. Submit your comments by JUNE 12, 2017

To submit formal comments, please visit the Federal Register formal comment page: (please copy the following URL and paste in a new browser)
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/05/23/2017-10603/request-for-comments-on-negotiating-objectives-regarding-modernization-of-the-north-american-free

Read the instructions on the above page and click on the green button to “Submit a Formal Comment.”

For alternatives to online submissions, please contact Yvonne Jamison, Trade Policy Staff Committee, at (202) 395-3475.

This is your chance to let the U.S. government know what helps your company under current rules, what could help your company more, and what would hurt your company. Do not stand on the sidelines – make your voice heard in Washington D.C. today!

As your partner and colleague, your company’s success is of the upmost importance to us. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Source: The United States Trade Representative (USTR)