Grassley: Impeachment Efforts Will Sideline USMCA, Other Pieces Of Legislation

Congress is back in session, but because of impeachment efforts, doubts are starting to creep in that several pieces of key legislation, including a USMCA vote, will likely be delayed.  Only seven weeks remain in 2019 where both Chambers are in D.C., and it’s becoming more and more likely that the House will write up impeachment articles, leading to a trial in the Senate.  Republican Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Chuck Grassley was asked how the current mood in D.C., would impact a USMCA vote.

“I’m going to assume that, with impeachment, it’s not all positive for Democrats to pursue that line of attack; but assuming they do, and I think they’re going to, then they’re surely going to want to show some progress on legislating some important things…and, so, consequently, move along on USMCA.”

Grassley said Speaker Pelosi said before the recess, she wanted to work with the president on USMCA and prescription drug pricing.  American Farm Bureau trade adviser Dave Salmonsen said Pelosi’s negotiating team is back, some met with officials in Mexico, during the recent two week break; and other may still meet with the U.S. Trade Ambassador.

"We expect them to be meeting, hopefully, with Ambassador Lighthizer.  We’d like to see them finalize what would need to go into the implementing bill, and get that process moving along.  But, here we are in the middle of October, I think, over the next few weeks, we really need to see some agreement on this implementing legislation, if it’s going to be presented to the Congress, this fall.”

Salmonsen said it’s hard to say if USMCA and impeachment can be kept separate, adding, “we’re encouraging everybody to stay in their lane and work on issues, but it’s all part of the political environment going on in Washington, these days.”

Supporters of USMCA says the trade deal will result in more than $2 billion in new Ag export sales.

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