U.S. Reps. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), Darin LaHood (R-IL), and Jackie Walorski (R-IN) this week applauded the newly reached United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) deal made by U.S. President Donald Trump and Democrats in Congress.
“With this final agreement to modernize North American trade, the president is delivering on his promise to level the playing field for American workers and farmers and to keep our economic momentum going,” said Rep. Walorski, who on Tuesday, along with other members of the House Republican USMCA Whip Team, received a briefing from U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer on the final agreement.
Both the president and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) agreed on Tuesday that after reaching a deal on the final version of the USMCA after months of negotiations, the trade pact will be a much better improvement over its predecessor, the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Reps. Walorski, LaHood, and Wenstrup pointed out that the agreed-upon version will benefit agricultural businesses in each of their states.
“This is a huge victory for our country’s workers, small businesses, manufacturers, and farmers. USMCA will drive economic growth and boost job creation by expanding markets for made-in-America products and Hoosier ag exports,” Rep. Walorski said. “Now it’s time for Congress to vote without further delay. I look forward to casting my vote for USMCA soon.”
Rep. Wenstrup agreed and said that “Congress should quickly pass USMCA to rebalance North American trade and support American workers, farmers and innovators.” He also thanked the president and USTR Lighthizer “for their tireless work to support the 428,400 Ohio jobs that depend on trade with Canada and Mexico.”
Rep. LaHood noted that the USMCA also bodes well for farmers, manufacturers and small businesses in his home state of Illinois.
“Over 40 percent of the products we grow and produce in Illinois go to Mexico or Canada, and this 21st-century trade agreement will maintain and strengthen the open market, free flow of goods that is so vital for our agriculture community in the Midwest,” said Rep. LaHood.
Rep. LaHood also called the final deal “a strong agreement,” and said he was pleased that Speaker Pelosi “finally agreed to bring USMCA forward for a vote.”
“I am hopeful that we can vote on USMCA before the Christmas break and deliver a much-needed win for Illinois and our country,” he added.