The free trade United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) between the United States, Mexico and Canada , is a piece of strategic alliance that has been valued by Trump as good for the United States, however the Democrats in the House of Representatives do not think so and they refuse to approve it.
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, warned that Congress will not consider the new trade pact until Mexico approves its major labor laws reform.
Beyond this scenario, the Democrats of the Lower House have shown their interest in changing some terms of the trilateral agreement, mainly those related to labor and environmental standards.
Pelosi informed the press that she agrees with his progressive colleagues and warned that changes must be made to the text of the USMCA treaty should be changed to Eensure it is “enforceable”.
She also predicted that “it’ll take some time.” for the USMCA to be voted in the Lower House.
Abuse to Mexicans
As a starting point “we have to see that Mexico passes the legislation, that they have factors in place that will make sure it´s implemented and they demonstrate some commitments in sincerity, because it´s a big issue how workers are treated in Mexico,” Pelosi said an interview to the Politico newspaper.
Thus, the Democratic representative for California asserted that Mexico must approve the labor legislation reforms required for the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) before the US Congress may value the agreement.
Meanwhile, the White House expects the Legislature to give green light to the pact before August, when both Chambers enter into recess.
Very diplomatic Mexico
This week Mexico´s new general consuls for the United States committed to work to facilitate the approval of the USMCA in the American chambers and to defend Mexican migrants in the neighboring country.
“We are going to accompany the process of legislative ratification of the USMCA, between Mexico, the United States and Canada, which is ongoing,” Jorge Islas said in a press conference the new Mexican General Consul in New York.
The diplomat promised to give “accurate information” to the important people who influence the House of Representatives and the US Senate to clarify “the position of the Mexican State” on the commercial treaty.
Now, both Trump and his top advisers, including the US Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, have so far refused to cancel the levies until both countries accept quotas on their metal exports.
The administration of Mexico’s president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has indicated it plans to pass the necessary legislation before its Congress goes on recess at the end of April.
On the other hand, one of the most influential Republican senators, Chuck Grassley, advised Trump last week to suspend the steel and aluminum tariffs imposed on Canada and Mexico as a precondition for Congress to vote on the ratification of the USMCA.
Translated by: José Espinoza
Latinx Newswire
