Stephen Kho Quoted in Global Trade Review on NAFTA Renegotiation Timetable
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Akin Gump international trade partner Stephen Kho was quoted in the Global Trade Review article “NAFTA renegotiation: Dispute resolution emerges as sticking point,” regarding the Trump administration’s announcement that it intends to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. According to the article, Chapter 19, which addresses dispute settlement, is emerging as one of the thorniest issues.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer notified Congress last week of the administration’s plans. Under the U.S. Trade Promotion Authority, the article notes, formal negotiations cannot begin until 90 days after this notice is provided, allowing for official NAFTA renegotiations to start no sooner than August 16, 2017.
The article reports, some hope the renegotiation could be concluded by the end of the year, but Kho, who formerly worked in the USTR’s office, thinks that is unlikely. “This proposed timetable is very aggressive; thus, it would not be surprising if the renegotiations were to actually continue into next year,” he said.