Sunday on NBC 5’s “Lone Star Politics,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said there was “an active debate,” within the Trump administration on the direction of the NAFTA renegotiation.
When asked about the direction the NAFTA renegotiation is taking, Cruz said, “I am worried. The most consistent concern that I hear from Texas business leaders all across the state and also from farmers, from ranchers throughout the state is trade, and what the administration is going to do on trade.”
He continued, “My view on NAFTA renegotiation it could be a good thing, it could be a bad thing. It would be a good thing if we modernized the agreement, if we expand our access to Mexican markets, the Canadian markets, if we increase trade, that would be good for Texas. On the other hand, if it is used instead to erect barriers to the U.S. market, to decrease trade, that will hurt Texas farmers, hurt Texas ranchers, hurt Texas businesses. The truth of the matter is there are voices on both sides of that debate within the Trump administration. There is an active debate. I can tell you I have leaned in repeatedly, with President Trump directly, with the cabinet members involved in this saying we need to be expanding trade, opening up and I think the best opportunity for NAFTA is energy. Opening up the Mexican energy markets, there are vast energy reserves in Mexico. If we do that, we can produce thousands of good paying jobs in Mexico and naturally the place they will turn for expertise is Texas.”
When asked about putting tariffs imported automobiles, Cruz said that was a “bad idea.”
Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN
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