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Events • October 26, 2017 

# Renegotiating NAFTA: Prospects and Challenges: Opening Remarks And Session I: Nafta’s Origin & Purpose 

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is currently being renegotiated by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. On the campaign trail, President Donald Trump promised to get a better deal, or walk away entirely from NAFTA if necessary. Amidst the air of uncertainty surrounding the talks, a productive discussion surrounding the prospects and challenges to modernizing NAFTA has emerged. Though NAFTA was a cutting–edge trade deal in 1994, international trade has transformed significantly since then, most notably with the advent of the digital economy. This full–day conference explores both the politics and reality of the NAFTA negotiations, and puts forward ideas for what a modern NAFTA could look like.

**WELCOMING REMARKS** 

[**Simon Lester**](https://www.cato.org/people/simon-lester), Trade Policy Analyst, Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute

**SESSION I: NAFTA’S ORIGIN & PURPOSE** 

**John Weekes**, Bennett Jones 
**Rufus Yerxa**, National Foreign Trade Council 
**Ricardo Ramirez**, Appellate Body Member, World Trade Organization 

**Moderator: Jim Bacchus**, Former Chairman of the WTO Appellate Body

##### Featuring 

[![Simon Lester](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2021-01/Simon%20Lester.jpg?itok=noQ9immh)](/people/simon-lester) 

##### [Simon Lester](/people/simon-lester)

Cofounder, World​TradeLaw​.net, and Former Legal Affairs Officer, Appellate Body Secretariat, World Trade Organization

##### John Weekes 

##### Rufus Yerxa 

##### Ricardo Ramirez 

[![James Bacchus - cropped](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2025-04/jim_baccuhus-cropped.jpg?itok=sQTKwZ3_)](/people/james-bacchus) 

##### [James Bacchus](/people/james-bacchus)

Adjunct Scholar, Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute; Former Chairman, Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization