It’s a good deal for us and our partners. We all get more consumer choice. We all get more competition, which holds down prices.

Jobs are created in all the countries. To be sure, some American jobs are lost, as factories move to Mexico. This is hard on the displaced workers, but so is competition that eliminates American jobs for other American jobs. Overall, benefits exceed costs.

No matter. The Trump administration is obsessed with economic nationalism and reducing America’s trade deficit, which — after China — it blames on NAFTA.

Negotiations are underway to defuse U.S. complaints, but the lack of progress leaves open the possibility that Trump will withdraw from NAFTA.

The administration’s increasingly acerbic rhetoric suggests that a showdown may be approaching. “I am surprised and disappointed by the resistance to change from our negotiating partners,” said Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. trade representative and chief American negotiator, after the last bargaining session. “We have seen no indication that our partners are willing to make any changes that will . . . (reduce) these huge trade deficits.”