Donald Trump’s negotiating strategy is to sow confusion among those sitting across the table. A report last year suggested he schooled his top trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, in the art of the deal. There were hopes that Trump was starting to favour a “skinny” NAFTA, a slimmed down version of the agreement, centred on an increase in North American content for autos. An agreement on increased North American content in autos between Canada, Mexico and the United States, raising the content level to nearly 75 per cent, has reduced the number of irritants. The WSJ advocated the “self-rescue option” of a “skinny NAFTA” that would not alter U.S. law, and therefore wouldn’t require a vote in Congress.

Source: National Post May 23, 2018 23:03 UTC