US Energy and Security Hinge on NAFTA Safeguards

May 2, 2018

U.S., Canadian, and Mexican representatives are in the middle of negotiations to revise the North American Free Trade Agreement — an agreement that over the years has been very good for American energy. Yet, there’s uncertainty over whether a key NAFTA provision that safeguards U.S. investments in those countries will survive. Such an outcome would be a significant blow to U.S. energy and national security.

The uncertainty stems from the administration’s signals that NAFTA’s investor-state dispute settlement provision should not be included in a new agreement. ISDS protects American interests and property from unfair treatment by host nation governments. But in remarks last fall, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer was dismissive of this idea:

It’s always odd to me when the business people come around and say, “Oh, we just want our investments protected.” I mean, don’t we all? I would love to have my investments guaranteed. But unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way in the market...

Read entire article at Real Clear Energy.

 

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