The USMCA: Something New or #JustAnotherNAFTA
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The USMCA: Something New or #JustAnotherNAFTA

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) finally got a major overhaul, something campaigned on by President Trump and negotiated in Congress for the past three years. There are a number of significant changes about which American businesses need to be aware. Below we’ll discuss 5 key differences between USMCA and NAFTA.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]When NAFTA came into force on January 1, 1994, it was seen as a way to foster economic growth across…

Is Your Company Capitalizing on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)?
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Is Your Company Capitalizing on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)?

The primary purpose of free trade agreements (FTAs) is to lower or remove tariff barriers that hamper the active trade of goods and services between countries and to protect intellectual property rights. The U.S. alone has more than 12 FTAs, and there are more than 400 regional trade agreements worldwide; even so, it appears that many companies fail to leverage this opportunity to open up foreign markets to their products. Based on…

Mexico becomes first country to pass USMCA
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Mexico becomes first country to pass USMCA

Mexico’s Senate on Wednesdaypassed the USMCA, making it the first country to ratify the new North American trade pact. “USMCA passes! Mexico goes first with clear signal that our economy is open,” Jesús Seade, Mexico’s undersecretary for foreign affairs, wrote on Twitter. “We’re confident that our partners will soon do the same,” Seade added. Passage in Mexico…

NAFTA, Explained With a Toy Car
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NAFTA, Explained With a Toy Car

NAFTA made your car cheaper, USMCA could change that.When the North American Free Trade Agreement began in 1994, auto companies in the US, Canada and Mexico could trade parts and cars without paying tariffs. And they could source parts and labor from the cheapest places. That is a big reason why US car prices have only risen seven percent in 25 years. But the proposed US Mexico Canada Agreement — or USMCA for short — could change that; President Trump’s new deal would increase the regulations that car manufacturers need to meet in order to sell tariff-free cars. We built a Ford Mustang to explain.

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All About That Base(line): How to Interpret the International Trade Commission Report on USMCA

On or around April 18, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is expected to release a report assessing the expected effects on the U.S. economy of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Interpreting the report is going to be… complicated. This report is required under the Bipartisan Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (known as…

US/Mexico/Canada Agreement Strengthens American Workers and Competitiveness – Heidi Heitkamp
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US/Mexico/Canada Agreement Strengthens American Workers and Competitiveness – Heidi Heitkamp

If you can’t move production to avoid tariffs like the companies in the story below, make sure to get the training you need. Make sure you are properly classifying products and applying the correct tariff rates.  Don’t take a risk, get training here.[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] At 25 years old, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is…

Canada quietly moves to resolve steel spat with Mexico
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Canada quietly moves to resolve steel spat with Mexico

NAFTA partner’s exports now dodge 25 per cent tariff, but another U.S. trade threat looms Finance Minister Bill Morneau has quietly reversed a controversial decision to slap a surtax on two types of Mexican steel imports. Effective Feb. 2, up to a new limit, Mexican energy tubular products (such as those used to build pipelines) and…

“Malicious Synergy” and the Section 301 Tariffs
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“Malicious Synergy” and the Section 301 Tariffs

“Synergy”, the outcome when two or more items combine to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Generally considered a good thing. Several recent international trade developments show that synergy also can work in reverse. In this instance turning three separate obnoxious events into one seriously intractable problem. Everyone already knows about the…

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Will Provide a Boost to the Global Digital Economy
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The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Will Provide a Boost to the Global Digital Economy

Today, however, digital products and services help ensure a more energy efficient and resilient grid, allow for improved agriculture production, and facilitate data driven health care services and improved patient outcomes.  According to the World Trade Organization, digital trade accounted for $27.7 trillion in 2016, up 46 percent from 2012.  It is imperative that our national…