The White House and congressional Democrats have opened talks to resolve outstanding details that have thus far held up the new North American trade deal, according to people briefed on discussions between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and trade chief Robert Lighthizer.
Pelosi told Lighthizer that she will designate members of her caucus to be working group representatives to deal with labor, enforcement, environment and pharmaceutical provisions of the deal, two people briefed on the discussions said. ...
On enforcement, I would prefer reopening the text and fixing all the various DS chapter flaws that could prevent panelists from being appointed. But if everyone is looking for a quick fix that avoids reopening the text, one possible solution is for the parties to establish the roster now. That would at least fix the particular problem that NAFTA DS struggled with, although the text is vague enough that new problems may arise.
