Thursday, February 14, 2019

U.S. Senate tinkers with trade deal



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.