North American O&G groups give NAFTA suggestions

WASHINGTON, DC, August 3, 2017 – Several North American hydrocarbons associations have made requests to their respective governments ahead of NAFTA talks scheduled to begin August 16.

The meeting will be held at the initiative of US President Donald Trump, who has been seeking to renegotiate the agreement as part of the promises made during his election campaign last year.

In a joint statement, the Mexican Association of Hydrocarbons Companies, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and the American Petroleum Institute requested the immediate removal of tariffs for energy industry goods, particularly those used in the E&P and oil and gas processing sectors.

The associations also called for a continuation of NAFTA’s current stance on tariff-free trade in crude oil and refined fuels such as petrol, fuel oil and kerosene.

The joint statement included several other suggestions, including the implementation of a “robust regime” of rules of origin, regulatory co-operation, increased market access and investment protection measures, among others.

Implementing these policies would support the removal of commercial barriers and create business growth opportunities, the associations said.

Mexico’s own government has also issued four primary pillars of its negotiating strategy.

Secretary of Economy Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal presented on Wednesday a document that emphasised “strengthening North American competitiveness, progress towards inclusive and responsible regional trade, taking advantage of the opportunities of the 21st century economy and promotion of certainty for trade and investment.”

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