NAFTA's Days Appear Numbered

After several days of rumors, an executive order to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been delayed for the time being.  It appears that Congressional Republican's lack of desire to fall in line has stalled Trump's efforts for the time being.

Trump told the leaders of Mexico and Canada on Wednesday that he would not immediately move to terminate the North American Free Trade Agreement, only hours after an administration official said he was likely to sign an order that would begin the process of pulling the United States out of the deal.

The White House wants Congress to authorize those negotiations under legislation that would allow expedited approval of the reworked agreement, but talks between administration officials and congressional Republicans have moved slowly.  Washington must give Canada and Mexico six months’ notice before exiting the trade agreement, which came into force in 1994. Any action to that effect would start the clock.

Walking away from Nafta would disrupt the economies of the United States, Canada and Mexico, and strain broader relations among the countries. Over the last two decades, their economies have become increasingly intertwined. The volume of trade has multiplied, and the manufacture of many goods, notably cars, involves multiple border crossings and factories in all three nations.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/us/politics/nafta-executive-order-trump.html?_r=0