NAFTA Rewrite Fails Key Climate Test

WASHINGTON - Congress must reject a reworked North American Free Trade Agreement that fails to protect the environment and address climate change, the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental groups said in a letter to lawmakers today.

News reports say that the administration is close to reaching an agreement with House leaders on a new trade pact, now being called USMCA.  

The following is a statement from Dan West, a senior advocate for NRDC:

“Trade is good, but more trade also means more production and more transportation of goods — and that means more carbon pollution. That’s why any modern trade agreement, such as a reworked NAFTA, must include climate protections.

“While the details are still secret, all indications are that the revised NAFTA pact fails this key climate test, and we will be forced to oppose it.”

Here is some background information on climate, Paris and the USMCA:

• NRDC blog - Paris Agreement Guarantee Must Be Part of USMCA
• Hill op-ed - U.S. Congress Can Help Reverse Alarming Climate Trends in Mexico

# # #

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.​