FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anna Epstein
Washington, D.C. – Today Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions Forum (CRES Forum) issued the following statement and issue briefing in advance of the upcoming round of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiations slated to occur in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, October 11.
“If done correctly, renegotiation of NAFTA will be a game changer for America’s clean energy sector,” said Charles Hernick, CRES Forum Director of Policy and Advocacy.
“In the decades since NAFTA first came into effect, technology, globalization, and innovation have changed the landscape of international trade and energy development. CRES Forum views this latest round of renegotiations as way to improve upon the original agreement and a significant opportunity to address America’s economic and national security needs in the 21st century,” said Hernick.
CRES Forum released an issue briefing on Tuesday outlining how free trade provisions can be effectively maintained and improved to make NAFTA 2.0 work for American businesses and consumers interested in cheap, reliable, and clean energy.
“Within the energy and environmental objectives announced by the Trump Administration are significant proposals that would prioritize support for domestic energy production – including clean energy resources – and seek to integrate environmental provisions from the 1994 side agreement into the main framework of NAFTA. CRES Forum believes that it remains as important as ever for NAFTA countries to reinforce and prioritize a concrete commitment to respecting local environmental laws—especially those that address climate and promote clean energy,” Hernick concluded.