Category Archives: Canada-US trade

NAFTA Again – Exaggerated Controversy over Chapter 19 Panels

Here is a comment of mine published by the C.D. Howe Institute on the controversy surrounding the NAFTA binational panel system and the US objective of scrapping the thing in its entirety. A lot of hot air abounds/ Let’s look more closely at some of the facts: CD Howe Communique 11 Aug 2017

Canada’s NAFTA Strategies – Play Hardball

An op-ed piece of mine in the Globe and Mail Report on Business, outlined the implications of the USTR’s statement of the Trump administration’s NAFTA renegotiations and Canada’s possible response. CANADA WILL HAVE TO PLAY HARDBALL on US NAFTA DEMANDS Globe and Mail, 17 July 2017 LAWRENCE L. HERMAN © 2017 So we now know… Read More »

NAFTA – Everyone’s Chattering

There’s no end to the advice – well-intended on not – that Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and her team are getting from NAFTA experts and non-experts, far and wide. Interest and engagement over NAFTA and other trade issues amongst Canadians these days thanks to Mr. Trump is probably unprecedented. But one has feel sympathy… Read More »

NAFTA and Beyond – Canadian Trade Strategies

As Canada enters the difficult and contentious NAFTA negotiations with the US, here are some thoughts in a Globe and Mail op-ed piece on some elements for Canada’s overall trade strategies, not forgetting either the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (which has been signed by all countries, even the US) and the World Trade Organization Agreement, where… Read More »

NAFTA Negotiations – Alternative Ways to Settle Disputes

Here is a short piece published by the C. D. Howe Institute, 24 May 2017, suggesting some options for Canada in NAFTA negotiations if the US demands removal of the existing binational panel system (in Chapter 19) for dumping and subsidy cases. While not advocating that Canada should give in, the article suggests how State-to-State… Read More »

Softwood Lumber Redux

Here is a comment of mine in the Globe & Mail, 27 April 2017, on the softwood lumber dispute between Canada (“Softwood Five”) and the US and why it just won’t go away. Softwood Lumber Redux

Canada and the American Challenge

Here is a memo on the various Canada-US trade issues as we move through 2017. The critical matter is the impending NAFTA re-negotiations. This memo provides a summary review of the challenges Canada faces. https://hermancorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Canada-and-the-American-Challenge-April-2017.pdf

NAFTA Negotiations – Who’s In Charge In Washington?

Notwithstanding Mr. Trump’s claims that NAFTA is a disaster for the US and his priority to re-negotiate the treaty, things are not moving as planned in Washington for many reasons. I wrote an opinion piece for the Globe and Mail, 11 April 2017, on the subject, which can be viewed here. https://tgam.ca/2nWNCko

Tweaking NAFTA – Bilateral Talks May Be Best

Further to the debate sparked by President Trump’s reference to “tweaking” NAFTA when it comes to Canada-US trade, I penned the following piece in the Globe and Mail Report on Business, 17 February 2017. https://tgam.ca/2kuDEdf

Beyond NAFTA – A New Bilateral Trade Deal With the US?

I wrote an opinion piece in the Globe and Mail in January 2017, saying that a possible approach for Canada is to look beyond NAFTA as a three-way agreement and to consider a NEW BILATERAL TRADE DEAL with the US. Given the problems in resolving Trump’s concerns over Mexico within the NAFTA as it is… Read More »