A Policy Leadership Commission for NAFTA

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A Policy Leadership Commission for NAFTA
Keep the Borders Open 8th Agricultural and Food
Policy Information Workshop Puerto Vallarta,
Mexico March 9, 2002
Ron Knutson Al Loyns Professors Emeriti
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If there are to be positive and progressive next
steps in the NAFTA process, there must be a
Secretariat that is continuously pushing and
monitoring progress. 2002 Workshop Executive
Summary
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• Purpose Expand on the Secretariat Idea
• Background on the need
• Review Functions
• Rubic for NAFTA Secretariat Policy Leadership
  Commission (PLC)

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Background on Need for PLC

• Frequent trade disputes administered/litigated
  under trade remedy laws (TRLs) outside NAFTA
• Proliferation at domestic subsidies allowed
  within the NAFTA framework
• Excluded commodities sugar, dairy, poultry,
  wheat, barley

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Background on Need for PLC (cont)

• Lack of analysis of distributional consequences
  of NAFTA
• Lack of data and analysis of market structures
  and competition

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Background on Need for PLC (cont)

• Opportunities for increased harmony and freer
  trade in areas where conflict should be minimal

Education Environment
Research Disaster assistance
Economic information Credit
Grading Food assistance
Plant and animal protection Infrastructure
Food safety
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PLC Functions

• Data and analyses
• Clearing-house for information and data
• Freer trade oriented analysis

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PLC Functions

• Dispute Settlement
• First referral for TRL dispute settlement
• Analysis, negotiation, mediation, recommendations
• Potential for eliminating TRLs within NAFTA
• At least provide safeguards against groundless
  actions

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PLC Functions

• Planning and evaluation of NAFTA operations,
  successes and limitations
• Policy/program assessments
• Performance assessments
• Authority to pursue needed initiatives within
  NAFTA to achieve harmonization

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PLC Functions

• Competitive Policy
• Assemble and distribute structure/conduct data
  and information
• Coordinate cross-cutting competition/antitrust
  issues

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Summary

• PLC would be a catalyst for change within NAFTA
• PLC would be an active contributor to dispute
  settlement processes
• PLC would be an open source of data and
  information