Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens speaks with media at Windsor City Hall, May 13, 2015. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens speaks with media at Windsor City Hall, May 13, 2015. (Photo by Mike Vlasveld)
Windsor

Dilkens To Sell NAFTA Benefits In Washington

Windsor's mayor is headed to Washington to meet with American lawmakers this week, just as the sixth round of talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement get underway.

"I'll be part of a delegation with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and mayors of the big cities across Canada who will be having meetings with Members of Congress to discuss why this is so important," says Drew Dilkens.

So far, the talks have been difficult. American trade negotiators did not even release a comprehensive list of their proposals until the fourth round, and U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he is ready to pull his country out of the pact.

U.S. and Canadian flags along Windsor's riverfront. (Photo by Melanie Borrelli.) U.S. and Canadian flags along Windsor's riverfront. (Photo by Melanie Borrelli.)

While Canadian leaders have said, they are still committed to reaching a deal that benefits Canada, other experts, including CIBC analyst Kevin Chiang, admit the lack of progress keeps him up at night. At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne admitted he doubted the auto industry had a future in Canada if NAFTA is terminated.

Dilkens won't say if he is losing sleep, but he does not downplay the trade deal's significance to the local economy.

"Certainly it's something I've given great thought to," he says. "But, I think the president of the United States recognizes that his country benefits greatly from free trade."

One proposal floated by U.S. negotiator Robert Lighthizer has been an increase in U.S. content rules. That could gravely impact the Windsor Assembly Plant and local auto parts makers.

Canada is expected to propose some workarounds that will meet the U.S. demand without jeopardizing the Canadian auto industry, including research and development, lightweight materials, and computer technology in content rules.

In the meantime, Dilkens says he has considered Windsor post-NAFTA.

"Does the free trade between the United States and Canada come into play? Because, that has never been terminated," he says. "But, we have to remember that it is also to the benefit of the United States to have the NAFTA agreement in place."

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