BUSINESS/CANADA/MEXICO/NAFTA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The U.S., Canada and Mexico are focusing on rewriting the auto rules at the center of the North American Free Trade Agreement as negotiators face hard deadlines in an election year, raising the possibility of less drastic changes to other controversial parts of Nafta, according to people following the talks. A Republican congressional aide spoke of a possibility of negotiators striking a ‘skinny deal’ on Nafta that would include a thorough rewrite of the complicated rules that govern which cars and auto parts can be traded within the bloc without incurring duties. Two industry officials say they expect a deal on new auto rules before the Trump administration’s other objectives for the Nafta overhaul are addressed at the negotiating table…U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer and Mr. Guajardo have been working hard with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on the complicated auto rules. The three officials in recent days have agreed on a broad approach to rules that would increase the percentage of a vehicle that has to be sourced from North America. The auto rules would include a requirement that a significant percentage of cars be produced from higher-wage labor to qualify for duty-free treatment in the pact.”
-Siobhan Hughes and William Mauldin, “As Nafta Deadline Nears, Hopes for Deal Focus on Autos,” The Wall Street Journal, May 10, 2018 8:20 pm