Letter to Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, Office of the United States Trade Representative - Renegotiation of NAFTA

Letter

Dear Ambassador Lighthizer:

I write today to express my support for the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This process provides a much needed opportunity to establish a new framework for fair trade, which I have long argued is necessary to correct the broken promises of NAFTA and other recent free trade agreements. It is crucial that American workers are given a fair chance to compete and prosper from the benefits of international trade.

International trade only works when everyone plays by the same rules. We cannot continue to allow other countries to benefit at the expense of working Americans. As you continue begin negotiations, I request you consider the following principles:

Level Playing Field for American Workers: Robust and enforceable labor standards that ensure strong worker protections, such as fair wages and workplace safety, so that American workers are not disadvantaged by foreign labor.
End Outsourcing: Additional measures to prevent the outsourcing of American jobs. Hard working men and women should not lose their jobs because of sheer corporate greed.
Buy American: Federal contracts must give preference to American goods and services. This ensures taxpayer dollars are used to support investments in American companies and workers.
Currency Manipulation: Tough penalties for interventionist monetary policies that distort the market and increase our trade deficits, hurting American companies and workers.
Agriculture Exports: Strengthen the ability of American farmers to export their products and eliminate barriers to competition for certain goods.
Additionally, it is critically important that you keep Congress closely involved in the renegotiation. Our past trade deals have failed to take into consideration the concerns held by many Americans. I urge you to learn from these mistakes and appropriately consult with Congress throughout this process.

Now is the time to put an end to one-sided trade deals and realign our trade policies to benefit America's hardworking men and women. I look forward to working with you to achieve this goal.

Sincerely,

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