(NAFB) — Supporters of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) have been pushing for some time to see a summer vote on the deal. They’d like Congress to ratify the deal before they head off on their August recess. However, House Democrats say they’re not in a hurry to hold a vote. That pre-recess legislative window is getting closer to slamming shut.
Politico says Democratic lawmakers have said for some time that a summer deadline to pass the agreement wasn’t realistic.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s nine-member working group is holding meetings with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to address potential changes to the agreement. As a result, some aides think that there may still be a chance to get the deal ratified in 2019.
One aide tells Politico that a September vote is possible, depending on how far Lighthizer can or is willing to go to address Democrat concerns on enforcement, labor, environment, and drug pricing provisions in the deal.
Many legislators, officials, and industry observers in Washington agree that once the presidential election year begins, the chances of ratifying USMCA will plummet.
Source: National Association of Farm Broadcasters