Chamber CEO and former Mayor Jerry Sanders is calling on the San Diego business community to express support for NAFTA in the upcoming re-negotiation of the 23-year-old trade agreement.
In a message to members of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Sanders asked for messages of support to be sent to U.S. Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer.
“It is critical that we let our federal leadership know how important this agreement is to our region, how it can be improved, and advocate for a continued relationship with Mexico and Canada,” Sanders said.
President Trump railed against the North American Free Trade Agreement during the campaign, and almost pulled the United States out in April, but ultimately agreed to a formal re-negotiation.
Sanders said the agreement “is essential in addressing the local and regional issues important for business growth and job creation” in both San Diego and Tijuana.
“Please speak up for San Diego, for California, for businesses, and the entire U.S. economy and help assist the administration to identify its negotiating priorities,” he said.
The land ports of San Ysidro and Otay Mesa make up the busiest border crossing in the world, and many businesses have operations on both sides.
