---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're always willing to look at ways…"
description: "\"We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work better and actually starting t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/stephen-harper-3432_china_we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-naf_5773.png"
---

#  We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work…

![“We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work better and actually starting to open the agreement. I think, if you actually opened the agreement, I think you would get into a negotiation that - that would never terminate.” quote by Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/stephen-harper-3432_china_we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-naf_5773.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/stephen-harper-3432_china_we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-naf_5773.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/stephen-harper-3432_china_we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-naf_5773.png)

> “We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work better and actually starting to open the agreement. I think, if you actually opened the agreement, I think you would get into a negotiation that - that would never terminate.”

[Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker warns that while incremental improvements to a trade pact are acceptable, fully reopening negotiations risks endless debate and instability.

**In simple terms:** Caution against reopening NAFTA.

Key Takeaway

Negotiation can become endless.

Themes

trade policy negotiation dynamics political risk incremental reform policy stability

Mood

cautious pragmatic skeptical

Type

policy analysis political commentary

When to use this quote

- policy review meetings
- legislative debates
- international trade forums
- government strategy sessions

Key Concepts

NAFTA trade agreements political negotiation

Practical Applications

- risk assessment for trade reforms
- guidance on incremental policy changes

Questions to Reflect On

- What mechanisms can limit negotiation scope?
- How to balance reform with stability?

A Different Perspective

Some argue that a fresh negotiation could address systemic flaws and yield long‑term benefits.

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