Let's build on NAFTA, not tear it down

Why does the North American Free Trade Agreement — commonly known as NAFTA — matter to Minneapolis-St. Paul?

For starters, we're right in the middle of North America. Our geography, international airport, and water access via Lake Superior and the Mississippi River mean we're strategically positioned to benefit from the largest free-trade agreement in the world.

The gross domestic product of NAFTA's three members is more than $20 trillion. By eliminating tariffs, NAFTA has increased investment opportunities, benefiting American workers, reducing costs for American consumers and increasing the competitiveness of all three countries in the global marketplace.

Between 1993 and 2015, trade among the three members quadrupled from $297 billion to $1.14 trillion. That boosted growth, profits and jobs for all three countries. It also lowered prices for consumers.

Because NAFTA is important to our economic success, this week I will join business and civic leaders from around North America in Montreal to advocate for the future of Minnesota businesses. As government representatives from the United States, Canada and Mexico continue to negotiate the next steps for NAFTA, it is imperative that they know the value of NAFTA to the Twin Cities, our residents and our businesses.

From Cargill's commodities to Cummins' engines, Minnesota makes products for the world. Nearly a third of the state's exports go to Mexico and Canada at a value of almost $6.5 billion. Minnesota farmers send corn and soybeans to Mexico; over a quarter of Minnesota's taconite ends up in Canada. Minnesota benefits from imports as well. A tenth of the state's power is clean hydropower generated in Manitoba and transmitted across international borders to turn on lights from Roseau to Robbinsdale.

Some 174,000 jobs in Minnesota rely on our trade relationship with Canada; that's about as many people as work in downtown Minneapolis every weekday. Those 174,000 people work in Fridley processing oats from Canada into Cheerios and Lucky Charms for General Mills. They work at Boston Scientific building medical devices that save lives in Toronto and Winnipeg. They are your neighbors, relatives and friends.

Lower tariffs reduce import prices. That lessens the risk of inflation and has allowed the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates low.

NAFTA also helps keep energy prices down, since America's largest import is oil. The U.S. imports about $145 billion in oil from Mexico and Canada.

As the debate over NAFTA continues, it is important to remember that the rest of the nations of the world continue trading with one another.

Minnesota grain that goes to feed cows in Mexico? It can be replaced by grain from Argentina or Canada.

Those engines and automobile parts sent to Mexico to create the combines and harvesters used on Minnesota farms? Chinese businesses would love the opportunity to supply them.

The intellectual property of Minnesota's tech and agricultural companies must be protected from unscrupulous foreign competitors. Digital trade and e-commerce is another area where the trade agreement of yesterday cannot account for the needs of consumers and producers today.

We must also ensure that we use trade agreements as opportunities to raise the expectations and standards of our trading partners on environmental and labor matters. We have started to do so with NAFTA, but must do more.

Sensible changes to NAFTA are necessary, but they should be changes that enhance the relationships we have built with Canada and Mexico, not disruptions that hurt Minnesota businesses.

We have spent the past 25 years building bridges with our neighbors, and Minnesota is stronger for it. Let's strengthen those connections, not weaken them.