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Gov. Rick Snyder (State photo)
Gov. Rick Snyder and President Donald Trump are anything but buddies. Snyder didn't support Trump for president, and Trump does not easily forget.
On Monday, Snyder, who attended the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center, let it be known that he sides with Michigan's automotive industry leaders in defending the North American Free Trade Agreement, despite Trumps repeated threats to terminate the trade pact with Canada and Mexico, reports Chad Livengood of Crain's Detroit Business.
The Republican governor, finishing his last year in office, says NAFTA "should continue" and be modernized to reflect internet innovations and changes in the automotive workforce and supply chain since it took effect in 1994. Livengood quotes him:
"We wouldn't want to see NAFTA collapse or go away. I think that would be a negative for all three countries."
A federal site describes NAFTA:
The United States commenced bilateral trade negotiations with Canada more than 30 years ago, resulting in the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force on January 1, 1989. In 1991, bilateral talks began with Mexico, which Canada joined.
The NAFTA followed, entering into force on January 1, 1994. Tariffs were eliminated progressively and all duties and quantitative restrictions, with the exception of those on a limited number of agricultural products traded with Canada, were eliminated by 2008.
