{"id":64369,"date":"2017-01-23T23:40:51","date_gmt":"2017-01-23T23:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/trumps-top-economic-adviser-says-trudeau-shouldnt-be-enormously-worried-about-nafta-renegotiation.html"},"modified":"2017-01-23T23:40:51","modified_gmt":"2017-01-23T23:40:51","slug":"trumps-top-economic-adviser-says-trudeau-shouldnt-be-enormously-worried-about-nafta-renegotiation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/breaking-news\/political\/trumps-top-economic-adviser-says-trudeau-shouldnt-be-enormously-worried-about-nafta-renegotiation.html","title":{"rendered":"Trump’s top economic adviser says Trudeau shouldn’t be ‘enormously worried’ about NAFTA renegotiation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Donald Trump’s chief economic adviser says Canada should not be “enormously worried” about the newly minted president’s move\u00a0to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement,\u00a0despite the possibility of a border tax on energy imports.<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Justin\u00a0Trudeau\u00a0is holding a three-day retreat in Calgary with his inner circle to map out strategy on trade relations with the new U.S. administration.<\/p>\n

\n ‘There may be some modifications, but basically, things should go well for Canada.’<\/span>
\n – Stephen Schwarzman, Trump adviser<\/cite>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Stephen\u00a0Schwarzman, who is the chief executive of the U.S. investment firm\u00a0Blackstone\u00a0Group and\u00a0was appointed in December to head Trump’s Strategic and Policy Forum, met with Trudeau\u00a0early\u00a0Monday in Calgary and told him Canada is not in the president’s crosshairs, as trade between the two countries is largely balanced.<\/p>\n

“One of the important things is the unusually positive view that’s held of Canada,”\u00a0Schwarzman said.<\/p>\n

“Canada has been a great partner for the U.S. for as long as anybody can remember. There may be some modifications, but basically, things should go well for Canada \u2026 it’s a model for how trade relations should be; it’s a positive sum game. Canada is well-positioned.”<\/p>\n

Kushner not coming<\/h2>\n

\"Cabinet<\/p>\n

Stephen Schwarzman, chair of President Donald Trump’s strategic and policy forum, answers questions at a news conference after meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Calgary. Schwarzman said Trudeau should not be ‘enormously worried’ about the prospect of Trump renegotiating NAFTA. (Todd Korol\/Canadian Press)<\/p>\n

There had been plans for Trump’s son-in-law, Jared\u00a0Kushner, to travel to\u00a0Calgary on Tuesday to speak with members of the cabinet about NAFTA and other topics, according to a senior source who spoke to CBC News earlier Monday. But by late afternoon those plans had fallen through.<\/p>\n

“We can now confirm to you that no other officials from the U.S. administration, beyond Mr. Schwarzman, will be present here at the retreat,” a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office said. “A high level of engagement between our government and the U.S. administration certainly continues.”<\/p>\n

\n

Sean Spicer, Trump’s White House press secretary, confirmed Monday the president will meet with both Trudeau\u00a0and Mexican President\u00a0Enrique Pena Nieto\u00a0within the next 30 days to discuss the terms of a renewed trilateral trade agreement. Spicer reiterated there is a possibility Trump will\u00a0withdraw from NAFTA entirely if he cannot secure some concessions.<\/p>\n

Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. has said there is a concern the\u00a0country could face “collateral damage” from\u00a0Trump’s focus\u00a0on rejigging trade policy<\/a>. Schwarzman told reporters the chances of that sort of retribution\u00a0are\u00a0low, but acknowledged his\u00a0country’s leaders have considered applying tariffs to energy imports.<\/p>\n

“One of the things the U.S. is looking at is a potential border tax, which, I think if you’re in NAFTA is a good place to be,” Schwarzman said. “I think that will be one of the issues, ultimately, to be discussed.”<\/p>\n