Legislators urge trade representative to consider energy market benefits in NAFTA renegotiation

A bipartisan group of congressmen recently sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, highlighting the benefits of the current energy policies and market in response to Lighthizer’s intention to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

U.S. Reps. Tom Reed (R-NY) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) led the letter, which was signed by more than 50 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The representatives urged Lighthizer to promote North American energy independence as well as maintain or improve policies regarding the free flow of oil and natural gas products, the absence of tariffs, intellectual property protection and access to Canadian and Mexican energy markets.

“The North American energy markets are highly integrated and interdependent, with energy infrastructure, including pipelines and electric transmission, crossing the United States, Mexican and Canadian borders several times,” the letter said. “Maintaining the free flow of energy among these countries is vital to American energy security and economic viability.”

American Petroleum Institute (API) President and CEO Jack Gerard released a statement recently in support of the letter, echoing some of the views it expressed.

“NAFTA has played a critical role facilitating North American energy self-sufficiency by facilitating cross-border trade and investment in energy, supporting millions of U.S. jobs in the oil and natural gas industry,” Gerard said. “We look forward to continuing our work with the administration and Congress on forward-looking energy policies that protect American energy consumers.”