U.S. Trade Chief Predicts Quick Solution on NAFTA Update

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer says he can easily resolve concerns Democrats have over the proposed successor to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) tells reporters that Democrats want stronger enforcement provisions for labor and environmental portions of the so-called U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The deal, she says, can’t just be “NAFTA with sugar on top.”

Lighthizer tells a congressional hearing he could resolve such concerns in a half-day huddle with skeptical Democrat leaders. He also reiterates his confidence that the pact can be tweaked sufficiently to satisfy skeptics without reopening negotiations with Canada and Mexico—a step that would delay congressional approval for months.

 “We’re going to have a catastrophe if this doesn’t pass,” Lighthizer adds. He declares himself eager to finalize details so ratification can begin. Canada and Mexico each began the approval process earlier this month.