Smucker Statement on Meeting with Ambassador Lighthizer

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-16) hosted a roundtable discussion for freshman Republican House members to hear from United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer about the status of the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). 

Following the meeting, Rep. Smucker issued the following statement:

“We had a productive conversation with Ambassador Lighthizer today about the status of ongoing NAFTA negotiations and the potential impact on our districts. Over the last year, I’ve expressed concern to the administration about Canada’s unfair trade practices – imposing stiff tariffs as high as 300 percent on U.S. dairy exports – and have urged it to prioritize the American dairy industry in negotiations. 

“In today’s meeting, I again urged Ambassador Lighthizer to stand up for our dairy farmers – many of which are struggling to get their products to market and keep their farms operating. I also continue to believe that including a sunset provision in NAFTA would create uncertainty for American companies and would hinder their ability to plan for the future. Finally, NAFTA should include robust investor protections like investor-state dispute settlements to ensure American investors in foreign countries are protected from discrimination.

“I will continue to work with President Trump and Ambassador Lighthizer to improve our trade agreements and help ensure the hardworking farmers and employers in our district can compete in today’s global economy.”

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