Newhouse Hopeful Trade Will Take Center Stage After Recess

Congress will wrap up its August recess this week, and return to D.C. September 9^th to start the final push of 2019.  Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse, like many other representatives from farm districts is hopeful USMCA can be brought forward for a vote in the coming weeks.  He said while Democrats have raised several issues and questions about the updated NAFTA, many of those focus on pharmaceutical and labor issues.

Newhouse added pressure is starting to mount for a vote on USMCA.

“There’s a lot of new members of the House Democratic members, that won in districts that supported the president and they’re feeling some political pressure on approving, getting to a yes on the USMCA, and there’s a large number of those folks, so, I think that they’ll get there, I just hope it’s sooner rather than later.”

USMCA is not only the only trade issue to address in Washington D.C.  He says he’s hopeful the U.S. and China can end this trade war, which is now in its second year.  Newhouse said a fair trade deal with China is not only critical for the size of the market, and the amount of American products they purchase.

“Plus it sets the tone for countries all over the world.  And so getting this right getting this to where we do have a level playing field with China, making sure they play by the rules, it’s important for the United States absolutely, but it’s important for a lot of countries.”

Looking ahead to the final months of 2019, Newhouse says he’s hopeful in addition to trade, Congress will also address Ag Labor and the H-2A program in a bipartisan fashion.

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