NMMA wants Canada back in free-trade agreements

The National Marine Manufacturers Association said it was encouraged that the U.S. and Mexico reached an agreement to revise the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). But the U.S. trade association called free trade between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada a “top priority” for the boating industry.

“President Trump’s announcement on a tangible NAFTA agreement with Mexico is welcome news and an important step toward modernizing and preserving the trade pact,” said Thom Dammrich, NMMA president in Currents. “Maintaining the trilateral agreement is critical for the continued health and success of American manufacturing, including the recreational boating industry. To that end, we urge the administration to capitalize on this momentum and immediately bring Canada – our industry’s largest export market – back into the fold.” He also called on the administration to finalize the deal and send to Congress for ratification.

Dammrich said Trump should “leverage the goodwill” created by the progress and resolve other trade disputes, including the retaliatory tariffs against U.S.-built boats. “As the administration continues to move the ball forward on NAFTA, they should also focus on forging lasting trade deals with the European Union and China,” said Dammrich. “President Trump should be commended for his commitment to ensuring American businesses and workers receive a fair shake in these jurisdictions, and it is now time to turn words into concrete actions. A good starting place would be to remove all retaliatory tariffs and tariffs that run counter to the objective of punishing parties responsible for unfair trade practices.”

Dammrich said it was “premature to celebrate” the Mexico agreement. “We urge the administration to swiftly and simultaneously finalize the trilateral NAFTA revamp and address other outstanding issues with key trading partners,” he said.