Should the President terminate or renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA for short.

Earlier this week, it looked for certain that the Trump administration would immediately terminate the agreement. However, Trump soon revealed that he would renegotiate the deal, rather than scrap it all together.

This should come as no surprise to anyone who paid attention to Trump during the campaign.

The president has been a nationalistic fair-trade crusader. He’s even called NAFTA the “worst trade deal ever.”

Staunch capitalists have feared that Trump will become protectionist, as he’s stated he’s open to imposing a 35 percent tariff on Mexican imports.

As a country, we tax and regulate our businesses to no end, yet allow foreign countries that are known cheaters export their goods to us tax-free. And as a result, we’ve become more dependent on foreign countries than ever before.

As a capitalist I don’t believe in protectionism, but I’m also blank realistic enough to understand that what we have now is not free-trade.

Free-trade only works when countries are willing to play by the same rules and not look out for their best interest. It’s almost too idealistic in that sense.

Bill Clinton was the one who signed NAFTA in 1993. And yes wicked Hillary supported it.

Is it no coincidence that since 1997 America has lost nearly one-third of its manufacturing jobs? Even as the country has increased its population by 50 million people!

During his mediocre at-best presidency, Bill Clinton also lobbied for China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, which was disastrous for us.

The globalists have stacked the deck against America, and it’s about time we had a president willing to fight for our national interest regarding trade.

Did the President Change his Mind?

Critics are claiming that the president has turned his back on supporters and completely flip-flopped.

Donald Trump is not an ideologue, he wants the best results for the nation, no matter what which side agrees. Thus, many of his statements are tangible, and aren’t meant to be taken exactly at their word.

I know this is difficult for non-Trump supporters to understand, but think of all his campaign speeches as mere bargaining chips rather then set in-stone policy.

On Thursday the president took a question regarding his sudden change in position:

“[The prime minister of Canada and the president of Mexico] called me. They said, ‘Rather than terminating NAFTA, could you please renegotiate?’ I like them very much, I respect their countries very much. The relationship is very special. And I said, ‘I will hold on the termination, let’s see if we can make it a fair deal.'”

Trump, following the art of the deal, still will not take the option of termination off the table:

“Now, if I’m unable to make a fair deal, if I’m unable to make a fair deal for the United States, meaning a fair deal for our workers and our companies, I will terminate NAFTA, but we’re going to give renegotiation a good, strong shot.”

And that’s what I like about his new stance, renegotiation if it benefits the United States.

However, if it doesn’t satisfy our requirements, then wave goodbye like we did with the Trans-Pacific-Partnership.

President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the TPP the first week of his administration. He swiftly and effectively ended the entire debate surrounding that terrible idea.

If you still doubt the president’s resolve on this issue after our withdrawl from the TPP, you’re deusional.

Terminate or Renegotiate?

I support the president on this: renegotiate for a better deal, and if that ends up nowhere than terminate it once and for all.

Mexican president Peña Nieto clearly disdains Trump’s idea of a wall on the southern border. Canada’s Justin Trudeau has stated that he is open to negotiation regarding NAFTA.

Ultimately, I think Trump supporters will be somewhat saddened that the president didn’t immediately rip up the trade deal.

Renegotiation is a much more diplomatic and sound approach. Simply terminating the deal would have massive ramifications and could’ve brought about unintended consequences.

One of the reasons I voted for this president was so our one-sided trade deals could be fixed. If he can accomplish that, I’ll be more than satisfied.