Foreign Policy

Trump Won't Ditch NAFTA Just Yet

In a phone call with the leaders of Canada and Mexico, President Trump said he won't withdraw from the trade deal "at this time."

Trump Won't Ditch NAFTA Just Yet
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Article by Briana Koeneman and Matt Picht
SMS
April 26, 2017

The Trump administration has decided not to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement. At least, not yet.

According to a statement from The White House, President Donald Trump told leaders from both Mexico and Canada that he won't terminate the NAFTA treaty "at this time."

But the administration said it will move "swiftly" to renegotiate the agreement between the three countries 

Trump has been pretty vocal about his opposition to NAFTA.

"NAFTA has been a terrible deal, a total disaster for the United States from its inception," President Trump said. 

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But despite what Trump has said, pulling out of NAFTA could have its own downside. 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a frequent champion of the deal, claims 5 million U.S. jobs rely on the increased trade NAFTA has generated.

If Trump does decide to pull the trigger later, he has to give six months notice before the U.S. withdraws. The agreement will still apply to trade between Canada and Mexico.