WASHINGTON: Contentious new US demands are set to hit NAFTA negotiating tables on Wednesday, threatening to push modernization talks toward collapse as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau again tries to remind US President Donald Trump of the trade pact’s merits.
Trudeau will meet with Trump and trade-focused US lawmakers on the North American Free Trade Agreement while hundreds of negotiators, government officials and lobbyists from Canada, Mexico and the United States descend on a hotel in Arlington, Virginia for a fourth round of talks.
The Canadian leader’s visit comes amid increasing acrimony over NAFTA renegotiations, with Trump making fresh threats to terminate the 23-year-old agreement and the US Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday accusing Trump’s administration of trying to sabotage the talks with “poison pill proposals.”
Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray warned that an end to NAFTA would mark a breaking point in US-Mexican relations and affect bilateral cooperation in non-trade areas.
The NAFTA talks are likely to stall in the face of aggressive US demands to sharply increase content requirements for autos and auto parts, trade experts say.
The Washington round promises to be difficult, with Mexican sources saying the talks are expected to be extended by two days to Oct 17.
People briefed on the US proposals said that the North American content threshold for automotive would rise to 85 percent from the current 62.5 percent, with a 50 percent US-specific content requirement.
“These will be met with widespread opposition from Canada and Mexico. I think it’s just a bridge too far,” said Wendy Cutler, the Asia Society’s Washington policy director and former chief US negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal canceled by Trump.
Other contentious US proposals opposed by Canada, Mexico and US business interests include a five-year sunset provision, radical changes to NAFTA’s dispute arbitration systems, changes to intellectual property provisions and new protections for US seasonal produce growers.
In his meeting with Trump, Trudeau is expected to remind the president that Canada is the United States’ biggest export customer, with largely balanced two-way goods and services trade, and is not the cause of US manufacturing jobs lost under NAFTA, Canadian officials said.
Mexico has that distinction, with far lower wages that have lured US auto plants and other manufacturers across its northern border, resulting in a $64 billion trade surplus with the US last year that Trump administration officials have vowed to slash.
Trudeau in April urged Trump not to withdraw from NAFTA due to the pain it would cause on both sides of the border.
NAFTA talks hit contentious phase as Canadian PM fights for trade pact
NAFTA talks hit contentious phase as Canadian PM fights for trade pact
Acwa appoints Samir Serhan as CEO in planned succession
RIYADH: Saudi utility developer Acwa appointed Samir J. Serhan as CEO effective March 1, replacing Marco Arcelli in a planned leadership transition as the company accelerates global expansion in renewable energy, desalination and green hydrogen.
The Tadawul-listed company said the appointment forms part of a structured succession plan approved by its board, taking into account the scheduled expiration of Arcelli’s contract in April 2027. Arcelli, who has led Acwa since March 2023, will remain adviser to the chairman to support an orderly transition, according to a regulatory disclosure to Tadawul.
The leadership change comes as Acwa — one of the world’s largest private desalination companies and a major investor in energy transition projects — continues to scale its international portfolio amid rising demand for clean power and water infrastructure.
Mohammad Abunayyan, founder and chairman of the board of directors of Acwa, said: “Acwa stands today as a Saudi national champion and a global leader in renewable energy, water desalination, and green hydrogen, and our position continues to strengthen.”
He added: “This structured leadership transition reflects the strength of our governance and the maturity of our business platform. Our strategic direction remains clear and unchanged. We are pleased to welcome Dr. Samir Serhan to his new role as CEO of Acwa.”
Serhan joined Acwa last year as president of Saudi Arabia and Middle East, where he was responsible for seven key markets, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and Iraq.
“I’m honored to lead Acwa at a pivotal moment as the company accelerates profitable global growth in renewable energy, water desalination, and green hydrogen solutions — including advancing green hydrogen to decarbonize heavy industries — to deliver scalable, sustainable impact worldwide,” said Serhan.
Previously, Serhan served as chief operating officer of the US-based company Air Products, where he had global responsibility for operational business and project execution with profit and loss accountability across the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India. He also led technology, global engineering, manufacturing and equipment functions at Air Products.
Earlier in his career, he was president, Hydrogen for Praxair. For 14 years prior, he worked at the Linde Group in leadership positions in the US and Germany, culminating in his role as managing director of Linde Engineering.
Acwa, recently rebranded from ACWA Power, is a key developer of power and water infrastructure projects under public-private partnership models and plays a central role in Saudi Arabia’s energy transition strategy.
