Trump’s NAFTA Deal Great for Big Oil, Bad for Global Climate and Local Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Trump Administration today released text of an agreement with Mexico and Canada to revise the terms of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the three countries. The text represents an across-the-board threat to essential environmental and public health protections.
Trump’s NAFTA 2.0 would ramp up global warming and hamstring efforts to reduce the production and burning of fossil fuels. It would similarly undercut sustainable agricultural, biotechnology, food safety and other current and future environmental regulations.
Following time necessary to comply with disclosure and review requirements, Congressional action could potentially occur early in the next Congressional session.
In response to the new text, Doug Norlen, Friends of the Earth’s Director of Economic Policy, issued the following statement:
Trump’s trade agreement with Mexico and Canada is a corporate giveaway intended to sharply limit the powers of government to protect people and the planet.
The agreement continues to give polluting transnational companies greater rights than governments and citizens. This agreement is an attack on our ability to hold Big Oil and Gas accountable for the damage they cause to our communities. If this trade agreement moves forward, citizens in all three countries must continue our fight to protect the very food, air and water our communities need to survive.
Additionally, Gustavo Castro Soto, Director of Friends of the Earth Mexico, issued the following statement:
Trump’s and Peña Nieto’s NAFTA 2.0 agreement gives power to corporations to harm people, communities and collective rights, which will damage the environment, worsen poverty, and lead to human rights abuses in both countries. It worsens an international trend toward giving corporations increasing power over governments.
Expert contact: Doug Norlen, (510) 900-3143. [email protected]
Communications contact: Patrick Davis, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]