Trump administration starts countdown to NAFTA talks in mid-AugustWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Thursday set the clock ticking toward a mid-August start of renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico to try to win better terms for U.S. workers and manufacturers. With a letter to U.S. lawmakers, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said he triggered a 90-day consultation period with Congress, industries and the American public that would allow talks over one of the world’s biggest trading blocs to begin by Aug. 16. Renegotiation of NAFTA was a key campaign promise of U.S. President Donald Trump, who frequently called the 23-year-old trade pact a “disaster” that has drained U.S. factories and well-paid manufacturing jobs to Mexico. Trump has pledged to use the NAFTA talks to shrink goods trade deficits that stood at $63 billion with Mexico and $11 billion with Canada last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Lighthizer told reporters NAFTA has been successful for U.S. agriculture, investment services and the energy sector, but not for manufacturing. He added that he hopes to complete negotiations by the end of 2017. “As a starting point for negotiations, we should build on what has worked in NAFTA and change and improve what has not,” Lighthizer said in a conference call with reporters. “If renegotiations result in a fairer deal for American workers there is value in making the transition to a modernized NAFTA as seamless as possible.” In his letter to congressional leaders, Lighthizer said  NAFTA needs modernization for provisions on digital trade,  intellectual property rights, labor and environmental standards, regulatory practices, rules for state-owned enterprises and food safety standards. The Obama administration attempted to address many of these deficiencies in the 2015 Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which included Canada and Mexico, but Trump pulled out of TPP in one of his first official acts as president.  Canada and Mexico both welcomed the U.S. move to launch a NAFTA revamp. Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray, speaking at a news conference with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington, said the trade pact needed updating after nearly 25 years. “The world has changed, we’ve learned a lot and we can make it better,” he said. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Canada was “steadfastly committed to free trade in the North American region,” noting that 9 million U.S. jobs depend on trade and investment with Canada. U.S. Chamber of Commerce president Thomas Donohue urged U.S. officials to “do no harm” to businesses that depend on trade with Canada and Mexico and to move quickly on a new trilateral deal. As the administration took its first formal step toward NAFTA renegotiations, the U.S. Commerce Department launched an investigation on Thursday into Boeing Co’s (BA.N) anti-dumping claims against Canadian rival Bombardier’s (BBDb.TO) new CSeries jetliners, drawing a threat from Canada to review a deal to buy Boeing fighter jets. Lighthizer's letter (here%20Notification.pdf) is less detailed than a draft sent to lawmakers in March, which listed as objectives tax equality and the ability to reimpose tariffs if Mexican and Canadian imports pose a serious injury threat to U.S. industry. Trump late in April had considered a full withdrawal from NAFTA, but was persuaded by senior officials in his administration to pursue negotiations instead. Lighthizer said he did not think a new threat to withdraw from NAFTA would be necessary. “As the president has said, we are going to give renegotiation a good strong shot,” Lighthizer told reporters, adding that he believed Canada and Mexico would negotiate in good faith. He said he hoped to maintain the current trilateral format of NAFTA, but noted that many of NAFTA’s problems are bilateral issues that need to be worked out with either Mexico or Canada. “Our hope is that we can end up with the structure similar to what we have now. If that should prove to be impossible, then we’ll move in a different direction.” Asked if the NAFTA talks would seek to resolve trade disputes over imports of Canadian softwood lumber or Mexican sugar, Lighthizer said he hoped those issues would be settled before the NAFTA talks begin under separate negotiations being conducted by the U.S. Commerce Department. A Canadian source close to the lumber negotiations said it was unlikely an agreement could be reached by mid-August, however. Lighthizer said he will seek public comment on the NAFTA process and intends to publish negotiating objectives on or about July 16. politicsNews
trump administration starts countdown bafta talks reuters the trump administration thursday set clock ticking toward start negotiations north american free trade agreement canada mexico try win better terms workers manufacturers with letter lawmakers trade representative robert lighthizer said triggered consultation period congress industries american public would allow talks one world biggest trading block begin negotiation bafta key campaign promise president donald trump frequently called trade pact disaster drained factories manufacturing jobs mexico trump pledged use bafta talks shrink goods trade deficits stood billion mexico billion canada last year according census bureau data lighthizer told reporters bafta successful agriculture investment services energy sector manufacturing he added hopes complete negotiations end as starting point negotiations build worked bafta change improve lighthizer said conference call reporters if negotiations result faire deal american workers value making transition modernized bafta seamless in letter congressional leaders lighthizer said bafta needs modernization provisions digital trade intellectual property rights labor environmental standards regulatory practices rules enterprises food safety standards the obama administration attempted address many deficiencies partnership trade deal included canada mexico trump pulled tpp one first official acts president canada mexico welcomed move launch bafta revamp mexican foreign minister luis videgaray speaking news conference secretary state rex tillerson washington said trade pact needed updating nearly years the world changed learned lot make better said canadian foreign minister christian ireland said canada steadfast committed free trade north american region noting million jobs depend trade investment canada chamber commerce president thomas donohue urged officials harm businesses depend trade canada mexico move quickly new bilateral deal as administration took first formal step toward bafta negotiations commerce department launched investigation thursday boeing co claims canadian rival bombardier new series retainers drawing threat canada review deal buy boeing fighter jets lighthizer letter less detailed draft sent lawmakers march listed objectives tax equality ability impose tariffs mexican canadian imports pose serious injury threat industry trump late april considered full withdrawal bafta persuaded senior officials administration pursue negotiations instead lighthizer said think new threat withdraw bafta would necessary as president said going give negotiation good strong shot lighthizer told reporters adding believed canada mexico would negotiate good faith he said hoped maintain current bilateral format bafta noted many bafta problems bilateral issues need worked either mexico canada our hope end structure similar if prove impossible move different asked bafta talks would seek resolve trade disputes imports canadian softwood lumber mexican sugar lighthizer said hoped issues would settled bafta talks begin separate negotiations conducted commerce department a canadian source close lumber negotiations said unlikely agreement could reached however lighthizer said seek public comment bafta process intends publish negotiating objectives july politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Trump administration starts countdown to NAFTA talks in mid-AugustWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Thursday set the clock ticking toward a mid-August start of renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico to try to win better terms for U.S. workers and manufacturers. With a letter to U.S. lawmakers, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said he triggered a 90-day consultation period with Congress, industries and the American public that would allow talks over one of the world’s biggest trading blocs to begin by Aug. 16. Renegotiation of NAFTA was a key campaign promise of U.S. President Donald Trump, who frequently called the 23-year-old trade pact a “disaster” that has drained U.S. factories and well-paid manufacturing jobs to Mexico. Trump has pledged to use the NAFTA talks to shrink goods trade deficits that stood at $63 billion with Mexico and $11 billion with Canada last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Lighthizer told reporters NAFTA has been successful for U.S. agriculture, investment services and the energy sector, but not for manufacturing. He added that he hopes to complete negotiations by the end of 2017. “As a starting point for negotiations, we should build on what has worked in NAFTA and change and improve what has not,” Lighthizer said in a conference call with reporters. “If renegotiations result in a fairer deal for American workers there is value in making the transition to a modernized NAFTA as seamless as possible.” In his letter to congressional leaders, Lighthizer said  NAFTA needs modernization for provisions on digital trade,  intellectual property rights, labor and environmental standards, regulatory practices, rules for state-owned enterprises and food safety standards. The Obama administration attempted to address many of these deficiencies in the 2015 Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which included Canada and Mexico, but Trump pulled out of TPP in one of his first official acts as president.  Canada and Mexico both welcomed the U.S. move to launch a NAFTA revamp. Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray, speaking at a news conference with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington, said the trade pact needed updating after nearly 25 years. “The world has changed, we’ve learned a lot and we can make it better,” he said. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Canada was “steadfastly committed to free trade in the North American region,” noting that 9 million U.S. jobs depend on trade and investment with Canada. U.S. Chamber of Commerce president Thomas Donohue urged U.S. officials to “do no harm” to businesses that depend on trade with Canada and Mexico and to move quickly on a new trilateral deal. As the administration took its first formal step toward NAFTA renegotiations, the U.S. Commerce Department launched an investigation on Thursday into Boeing Co’s (BA.N) anti-dumping claims against Canadian rival Bombardier’s (BBDb.TO) new CSeries jetliners, drawing a threat from Canada to review a deal to buy Boeing fighter jets. Lighthizer's letter (here%20Notification.pdf) is less detailed than a draft sent to lawmakers in March, which listed as objectives tax equality and the ability to reimpose tariffs if Mexican and Canadian imports pose a serious injury threat to U.S. industry. Trump late in April had considered a full withdrawal from NAFTA, but was persuaded by senior officials in his administration to pursue negotiations instead. Lighthizer said he did not think a new threat to withdraw from NAFTA would be necessary. “As the president has said, we are going to give renegotiation a good strong shot,” Lighthizer told reporters, adding that he believed Canada and Mexico would negotiate in good faith. He said he hoped to maintain the current trilateral format of NAFTA, but noted that many of NAFTA’s problems are bilateral issues that need to be worked out with either Mexico or Canada. “Our hope is that we can end up with the structure similar to what we have now. If that should prove to be impossible, then we’ll move in a different direction.” Asked if the NAFTA talks would seek to resolve trade disputes over imports of Canadian softwood lumber or Mexican sugar, Lighthizer said he hoped those issues would be settled before the NAFTA talks begin under separate negotiations being conducted by the U.S. Commerce Department. A Canadian source close to the lumber negotiations said it was unlikely an agreement could be reached by mid-August, however. Lighthizer said he will seek public comment on the NAFTA process and intends to publish negotiating objectives on or about July 16. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: trump administration starts countdown bafta talks reuters the trump administration thursday set clock ticking toward start negotiations north american free trade agreement canada mexico try win better terms workers manufacturers with letter lawmakers trade representative robert lighthizer said triggered consultation period congress industries american public would allow talks one world biggest trading block begin negotiation bafta key campaign promise president donald trump frequently called trade pact disaster drained factories manufacturing jobs mexico trump pledged use bafta talks shrink goods trade deficits stood billion mexico billion canada last year according census bureau data lighthizer told reporters bafta successful agriculture investment services energy sector manufacturing he added hopes complete negotiations end as starting point negotiations build worked bafta change improve lighthizer said conference call reporters if negotiations result faire deal american workers value making transition modernized bafta seamless in letter congressional leaders lighthizer said bafta needs modernization provisions digital trade intellectual property rights labor environmental standards regulatory practices rules enterprises food safety standards the obama administration attempted address many deficiencies partnership trade deal included canada mexico trump pulled tpp one first official acts president canada mexico welcomed move launch bafta revamp mexican foreign minister luis videgaray speaking news conference secretary state rex tillerson washington said trade pact needed updating nearly years the world changed learned lot make better said canadian foreign minister christian ireland said canada steadfast committed free trade north american region noting million jobs depend trade investment canada chamber commerce president thomas donohue urged officials harm businesses depend trade canada mexico move quickly new bilateral deal as administration took first formal step toward bafta negotiations commerce department launched investigation thursday boeing co claims canadian rival bombardier new series retainers drawing threat canada review deal buy boeing fighter jets lighthizer letter less detailed draft sent lawmakers march listed objectives tax equality ability impose tariffs mexican canadian imports pose serious injury threat industry trump late april considered full withdrawal bafta persuaded senior officials administration pursue negotiations instead lighthizer said think new threat withdraw bafta would necessary as president said going give negotiation good strong shot lighthizer told reporters adding believed canada mexico would negotiate good faith he said hoped maintain current bilateral format bafta noted many bafta problems bilateral issues need worked either mexico canada our hope end structure similar if prove impossible move different asked bafta talks would seek resolve trade disputes imports canadian softwood lumber mexican sugar lighthizer said hoped issues would settled bafta talks begin separate negotiations conducted commerce department a canadian source close lumber negotiations said unlikely agreement could reached however lighthizer said seek public comment bafta process intends publish negotiating objectives july politicsnews