November 14, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 182 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H8829]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NAFTA ANNIVERSARY AND USMCA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this coming Sunday marks 
the 26th anniversary of the House of Representatives passing the North 
American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA.
  This agreement with our two closest trading partners, Canada and 
Mexico, has become outdated as time has passed, markets have 
diversified, and economies have flourished. We are in desperate need of 
updating NAFTA to meet modern-day economic demands.
  I know many of us have staff who are younger than NAFTA, and we can 
all agree that the world has changed an awful lot in the last three 
decades. Congress needs to bring the United States-Mexico-Canada trade 
agreement, or USMCA, to a vote immediately to keep trade free and fair. 
A vote on USMCA is long overdue.
  It has been more than 400 days since President Trump announced this 
historic agreement, and Mexico and Canada have already given USMCA the 
green light. For farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and everyone in 
between, we must follow suit. So many different industries can benefit 
from a modern trade agreement.
  In Pennsylvania, nearly 43,000 jobs depend on manufacturing exports 
to Canada and Mexico. Last year alone, Pennsylvania exported $15 
billion worth of products to Canada and Mexico.
  There is no telling what economic potential lies ahead with a new 
revamped trade agreement.
  In Pennsylvania, agriculture--and dairy, in particular--is the 
backbone of the Commonwealth's economy. USMCA's elimination of Canada's 
Class 6 and Class 7 dairy pricing programs would be a big win for dairy 
farm families. These programs have unfairly limited our export 
potential over the years.
  The signing of USMCA into law will also signal to other major trade 
partners, like China and Japan, that we are serious about these kinds 
of deals and we are committed to a bright future for American exports.
  There is no reason why we cannot pass USMCA before the end of the 
year. USMCA will create more jobs, boost wages, and spur the Nation's 
economy.
  What are we waiting for? Each day that passes without a vote is a 
missed opportunity. Let's get to work and hold a vote immediately.

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