The Senate is asking for some changes to the free trade deal the
Trump administration negotiated with Canada and Mexico before it will grant its
stamp of approval.
Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) warned the Trump
Administration that it needs to lift steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and
Mexico if it wants the USMCA to be approved in any of the North American
countries.
“It’s very,
very important that the White House get on board with doing away with these
tariffs so we can get this thing not only before the Congress of the United
States but before the Mexican Senate and before the Parliament, the House of
Commons in Canada,” Grassley told reporters during a weekly press call on
Tuesday.
The metals
duties are the “biggest impediment” to passing the USMCA trade agreement,
Grassley said.
“The Democrats want the administration to add provisions to last
year’s pact with Canada and Mexico that will ensure Mexico enforces
environmental protections and allows its workers to form unions freely,” said
Jim Wiesemeyer Pro Farmer’s Washington policy analyst.
