美加达成新贸易协定

After intense last-minute discussions ahead of a self-imposed midnight deadline, U.S. and Canadian officials announced late Sunday they reached a trade deal, allowing a modified three-way pact with Mexico to replace the nearly quarter-century old North American Free Trade Agreement.

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) — underpinning $1.2 trillion in annual trade — is expected to be signed in 60 days by President Donald Trump and his Canadian and Mexican counterparts.

Trump hailed the "wonderful new Trade Deal" on Monday and calling it a "great deal for all three countries" that "solves the many deficiencies and mistakes in NAFTA."

“USMCA will give our workers, farmers, ranchers and businesses a high-standard trade agreement that will result in freer markets, fairer trade and robust economic growth in our region,” said U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland in a joint statement. “It will strengthen the middle class, and create good, well-paying jobs and new opportunities for the nearly half billion people who call North America home.”

The U.S. agreement with Ottawa will boost American access to Canada's dairy market — with some concessions on its heavily protected supply management system — while shielding the Canadians from possible U.S. auto tariffs.

Steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by Washington, will remain, however. Canada had demanded protection from Trump's tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.

The metal tariffs discussions are on a “completely separate track,” according to a senior U.S. official.

However, NAFTA's Chapter 19 dispute resolution system will remain intact.

Leaving a Sunday night 75-minute Cabinet meeting, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau only said it was “a good day for Canada.”

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in the United States declared itself “extremely encouraged” by initial details of the new three-way pact.

“As we review the agreement text, we will be looking to ensure that this deal opens markets, raises standards, provides enforcement and modernizes trade rules so that manufacturers across the United States can grow our economy,” said NAM President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Timmons.

“This administration is committed to strong and effective enforcement of this agreement,” a senior U.S. official told reporters. “This is not going to just be words on paper. This is real.”

美国和加拿大官员在自行规定的周日午夜期限之前，经过最后一分钟的紧张谈判与周日晚间宣布达成了一项贸易协议，使得与墨西哥达成一项修改后的三方协议取代了已有近四分之一世纪历史的旧北美自由贸易协定。

美 - 墨 - 加协议（USMCA）支撑1.2万亿美元的年度贸易额， 预计特朗普总统及加拿大和墨西哥首脑在60天内签署。

特朗普总统周一对“非常好的新贸易协议”表示欢迎，并称其为“解决北美自由贸易协定中许多缺陷和错误”的“三国之道”。

美国贸易代表莱特希泽和加拿大外交部长方慧兰在一份联合声明中说，“美 - 墨 - 加协议将为我们的工人、农民、牧场主和企业提供高标准的贸易协议，这将使我们地区有更自由的市场，更公平的贸易和强劲的经济增长，” “它将强化中产阶级，为将北美召回家园的近5亿人创造良好，高薪的工作和新机会。”

美国与渥太华的协议将促使美国进入加拿大乳制品市场，让加拿大在其受到严密保护的供应管理系统上做出一些让步，换取加拿大人免受可能的美国汽车关税的影响。

然而，华盛顿实施的钢铁和铝关税仍然存在。加拿大之前要求不受特朗普总统进口钢铁和铝的关税的影响。

一位美国高级官员表示，有关金属关税的谈判是“完全不同的”。

北美自由贸易协定中有关争议解决机制的第19章将保持不变。

加拿大总理特鲁多星期天晚上开完75分钟的内阁会议后离开时，只是说这是“加拿大的好日子”。

全美制造商协会宣布对新的三方协议的初步细节“深受鼓舞”。

该协会总裁兼首席执行官杰蒂蒙斯说，“当我们审查协议文本时，我们将寻求确保此协议能打开市场，提高标准，提供执法和现代化贸易规则，以便美国各地的制造商能够发展自己的经济，”他说，“特朗普政府致力于强有力地执行这项协议。”

一位美国高级官员告诉记者， “这不仅仅是纸上的文字，这是实打实的。”