USMCA Update Newhouse
I'm Bob Larson. Progress in the ratification of the NAFTA replacement, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada-Agreement continues to drag on. But, once again, we are hearing about some movement in Congress that could be good for the eventual passing of the pact.And, U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse says it's coming from the one person who needs to put the wheels in motion ...
NEWHOUSE ... "Speaker Pelosi I think is working towards giving us a chance to vote on the Mexican, Canadian trade agreement. She has put together kind of a working committee look at some of the things that they have had issue with in the agreement. And so, I think that's a good faith effort on her part. I'm hoping to be able to get to a yes on consideration."
A possible hitch, Newhouse says, is if Democrats decide to reconsider portions of the agreement ...
NEWHOUSE ... "Mexico's already approved the agreement. I thought Canada was close to doing so. But, if we open it back up because we want to make changes, I would think that they have every right to do the same thing. That would just prolong and postpone us coming back to where we have a trade pact with our two nearest neighbors."
Newhouse says these so-called problems don't need to hold things up ...
NEWHOUSE ... "I hope that we can avoid that. I think if we can come to some agreement with those can be addressed in the future that we could move forward without opening that agreement."
Newhouse says with the August recess fast approaching, it may have to wait until afterward.