The hearing convened by the Office of the US Trade Representative on Wednesday – the first public session before next July’s joint review of the free trade deal – kicks off three days of testimony from more than 140 representatives from business, think tanks, academia and advocacy groups.

“One cannot make a strategic argument about the value of economic integration without also having a pragmatic and specific plan for ensuring that integration reduces, rather than exacerbates, economic and national security risks,” said Emily Kilcrease, a senior fellow at the Centre for a New American Security think tank.

09:30

China’s ‘gold rush’ in Mexico: why are Chinese companies investing south of the Rio Grande?

China’s ‘gold rush’ in Mexico: why are Chinese companies investing south of the Rio Grande?

In a written submission, she recommended that the three North American economies create an “economic security committee” to oversee implementation of such commitments.