A policy panel hosted in Washington last week by the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) sought to address Trump administration efforts to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and industry concerns surrounding it.
The organization supports NAFTA, and while seeking modernization of it, fears potential damage the administration could do to an agreement they view as critical for trade.
The panel, “A World Without NAFTA: A Look at the Future through the Lens of the Motor Vehicle Industry,” was focused on negative effects proposed changes could cause – most notably, the assessment that they could lead to cuts of as many as 50,000 U.S. jobs.
MEMA has also published a graphical report on the economic impact of the motor vehicle parts manufacturing industry on the U.S. economy, as well as how NAFTA affects U.S. jobs. The group sent that report to every member of Congress. In the past the organization has also written U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and released other studies of the potential effects of a NAFTA renegotiation.
“These discussions move the needle,” said MEMA President and CEO Steve Handschuh. “When a well-respected and valued organization presents meaningful data, provides real-world examples, and expresses the genuine concerns and interests of our members to decision makers and influencers, it makes a difference.”
Also at the recent panel were Xavier Mosquet, senior partner and managing director of The Boston Consulting Group; Ian Musselman, director of government affairs at Continental; and Charles Uthus, vice president for international policy at the American Automotive Policy Council.