WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nexstar) — The Trump Administration is ramping up pressure on Congress to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement.
Democrats expressed concerns over the agreement’s labor and environmental provisions. But some Republicans are confident the agreement will pass, but others aren’t so sure.
New York Republican Congressman Tom Reed says if Congress voted on the USMCA today, it would pass.
“We are good to go,” says Reed. “And we would have an updated Mexico Canada agreement where our farmers and our manufacturers and our auto suppliers and our auto industry would immediately benefit.”
But he says the hold up is one Democrat.
“It all rests in one person’s hands,” says Reed. “And that is the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.”
Pelosi says she still has concerns about whether the trade deal goes far enough to protect American workers and the environment. She also worries that a piece of the agreement could raise drug prices for U.S. consumers.
But Texas Republican Congressman Will Hurd says those issues are being worked out behind the scenes.
“Over the last few days some senior Democrats have expressed a little bit of concern in the ability to pass this, but I think Speaker Pelosi and our U.S. trade representative have been having some good conversations,” says Hurd.
Reed says he is optimistic Congress will pass the deal by the end of October.
