September USMCA Vote Becoming More Unlikely

Congressional ratification USMCA, is quickly slipping from September into October, and maybe even later.  With it already being mid-September, and not signs of a USMCA deal on the horizon, but there are a few proposals being exchanged between Democrats and the White House.  But frustration is been building on the GOP side.

“We've been in 'good faith' talks for more than eight months on this," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy recently said on CNBC.  "I mean, we should have had this done, before we departed. I thought Lighthizer had done a tremendous job from the administration-point-of-view, with the Speaker, answering all the different questions.”

Before the August recess, U.S. Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer answered a host of questions put forward by Ohio democrat senator Rob Portman.

“The environmental and labor standards are essentially non-existent in the current NAFTA.  And they are quite robust, the most robust we’ve ever had, in USMCA," Lighthizer said.

Portman "Most ever, in any trade agreement we've ever done?" Portman asked.

"That's correct." Lighthizer answered.

“How about expansion of agriculture products?  Is it better for American farmers under the status quo, NAFTA agreement, or better under the USMCA, the new agreement?" Portman asked.

"No, the USMCA is substantially better.  There are egg and poultry improvements, there are dairy improvements, there are wheat improvements, there are SPS improvements,” Lighthizer said.

Ag groups lobbying groups held a rally in D.C. this month in support of USMCA, calling on lawmakers to ratify the updated NAFTA.

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