Natural gas industry groups release position paper in support of NAFTA
Natural gas industry groups from the United States, Canada and Mexico recently released a new joint position paper in support of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), as the fifth round of NAFTA modernization negotiations begin.
The American Petroleum Institute (API), Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and the Mexican Association of Hydrocarbon Companies (AMEXHI) said in the paper that they support a modernized NAFTA that maintains investment protections for North American energy integration.
If the United States, Canada and Mexico cannot agree on updates to NAFTA, the group said, they urge the nations to retain the current version of the agreement. The groups also said that they do not support a sunset clause or an Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) ‘opt in/opt out’ mechanism.
“NAFTA has been a success story for North American energy security by allowing for the more efficient flow of energy, spurring economic growth, investment and job creation here at home,” API President and CEO Jack Gerard said. “The U.S. must retain its commitment to NAFTA and its robust protections for U.S. businesses and workers to continue benefiting energy consumers and advancing our nation’s energy leadership throughout the world.”
In August, the three organizations, who collectively represent more than 750 international oil and gas companies, released an initial joint paper emphasizing their support for market-oriented policies and opportunities for commercial growth and job creation.
