Republican governors press Congress to pass NAFTA replacement

The Republican Governors Association (RGA) on Thursday sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), President Trump’s trade pact proposed to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. 

The letter comes as congressional Republicans had expressed concerns over passing the deal amid opposition to the White House’s threat of tariffs on Mexico over immigration and as Democrats slam the agreement’s environmental and labor clauses.

{mosads}“Completion of the trade agreement is critical to our states as we seek to boost economic development and encourage new investment that leads to job creation,” the RGA members wrote in unanimous agreement.

“As chief executives of our states, we urge Congress to pass the USMCA quickly so American workers can begin reaping the benefits of improved trade with our North American neighbors. Passing the agreement quickly will give our small and large businesses the stability and predictability they need to expand, invest, and create more jobs.”

The White House is leaning heavily on its allies in Congress to push through the trade agreement, with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer visiting Capitol Hill on Tuesday to again pitch the deal.

The letter comes one day after Mexico’s Senate overwhelmingly approved the pact and as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is also expected to press Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to back the deal during a meeting Thursday.