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Midwestern states would be hit hard by no NAFTA

 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says Midwestern ag states are some of the most at risk if the U.S. was to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Chamber President Tom Donohue says the White House threats to withdraw from NAFTA must be taken seriously and would hit several Midwestern industrial and agricultural states as well as boarder states the hardest.

He says Michigan would be impacted the most, putting nearly 370,000 jobs in the state at risk which depend on trade with the two countries.  Michigan’s total export business to Canada and Mexico is valued at $35 billion, third in the nation behind Texas and California.

Wisconsin is second in line to take a hit from a possible withdraw, which would put 250,000 Wisconsin jobs at risk as nearly half of the state’s exports are bound for Canada or Mexico.

Missouri, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, and Nebraska are also listed in the top ten states most impacted by a NAFTA withdrawal.

Trade officials are continuing the fifth round of renegotiations in Mexico City this week.