GOP senator argues that USMCA is a ‘complete capitulation to Pelosi’

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) argued on Sunday that the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) agreement is a “complete capitulation” to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on trade.

Toomey argued on NBC News’s “Meet the Press” that President Trump is “mistaken” about his pride for the North American Free Trade Agreement’s (NAFTA) replacement, saying it strays from commitments to free trade.

“So unfortunately, USMCA is an exercise through all kinds of new provisions to diminish trade, and that’s why I hope Republicans reconsider this,” Toomey said. “We have historically recognized we’re all better off with more open markets.”

Full Toomey: President ‘mistaken’ on trade deficitshttps://t.co/EwbXsuo4Cs pic.twitter.com/4iERZPXByg

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) December 15, 2019

When NBC’s Chuck Todd asked the Pennsylvania senator if the Republican Party has moved on from free trade views, Toomey said that Trump is a “skeptic about trade” but that most of his colleagues would support free trade. 

Todd then asked why the White House believed Pelosi had more leverage in the USMCA negotiations.

“I don’t have an explanation for that, Chuck, but in the end there’s no question,” Toomey replied.  “It’s a complete capitulation to Pelosi and by extension [AFL-CIO President Richard] Trumka.”

Trump worked with Pelosi and House Democrats for months on the trade agreement amid the impeachment process. The new treaty, which was reached last week, is expected to pass with bipartisan support.

Toomey had previously said the agreement was worse than NAFTA.