Business leaders and members of Kansas’ congressional delegation are supportive of renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA.
Speaking at a summit hosted by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce in Wichita Friday, District 4 Rep. Ron Estes said he wants to modernize NAFTA in a way that keeps the “good parts” of the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.
Estes said Trump’s statements have begun to focus more on free and fair trade, instead of tearing up agreements.
“The president used some language during the campaign that really was negative regarding trade, but what I’ve been thoroughly impressed with since the election and even before he took office, that message changed," he said.
However, Trump has repeatedly threatened to withdraw the U.S. from NAFTA.
John Murphy, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said withdrawal would be “disastrous” for the U.S. economy. Canada and Mexico are Kansas’ top export partners.
Sen. Pat Roberts and Reps. Lynn Jenkins and Kevin Yoder also participated in the summit.
--Follow Nadya Faulx on Twitter @NadyaFaulx.
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