1600 Daily: Now is the time for USMCA

Now is the time for USMCA Last November, President Donald J. Trump fulfilled one of his most important promises to voters when he joined leaders from both Canada and Mexico to sign the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), replacing the outdated NAFTA. “In short, this is a model agreement that changes the trade landscape forever. And this is an agreement that, first and foremost, benefits working people,” the President said. Reps. Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Steve Scalise (R-LA) explain that “the U.S. will be losing out on more jobs, more customers for Made-in-America goods and a stronger economy unless the U.S. House of Representatives takes up the updated trade agreement with Mexico and Canada.” Yesterday, America’s leading manufacturing group upped the pressure on Congress to act. “Passage of this agreement is critical for U.S. manufacturing sector,” said Linda Dempsey, the National Association of Manufacturers’ (NAM) vice president of international economic affairs. “Canada and Mexico are manufacturers’ most important partners.” “USMCA passage is critical for manufacturers in every state,” according to a new comprehensive, state-by-state analysis by NAM. “Canada and Mexico purchase one-fifth of the total value of U.S. manufacturing output – more than the next 11 countries combined,” NAM’s Andrew Clark writes. “These exports support about 2 million American manufacturing jobs and 43,000 small- and medium-sized businesses.” Vice President Mike Pence told workers in Jacksonville, Florida, yesterday that “we are not going to allow an outdated trade deal to hurt American manufacturers or American farmers anymore.” Under NAFTA, nations like China were able to game the system, shipping their products to Canada or Mexico—and then sending them into the United States duty-free. “Those days are over,” the Vice President said. “We’re not going to let them undermine good-paying jobs that build the . . .  American middle class in this country, or the middle class I grew up in.” Reps. Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Steve Scalise (R-LA): “We must pass USMCA now.” In the headlines: USMCA will boost the American economy and create jobs

President Trump hosts the Freely Associated States President Trump welcomed the presidents of the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia to the Oval Office today—the first time all three leaders from the Freely Associated States have been hosted together at the White House by an American President. In a joint statement with President Trump, the three leaders reaffirmed their common interest in a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. America shares a special relationship with these nations, dating back to our shared sacrifice during World War II. This partnership didn’t end with the war. Today, citizens from the Freely Associated States are permitted to serve in the U.S. military, with several hundred currently on active duty. “We are confident our relationships will further our abiding mutual interests and remain a source of regional security, stability, and prosperity,” the four leaders said. Read the statement from President Trump and leaders of the Freely Associated States.

Photo of the Day

Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead

President Donald J. Trump poses for photos with leaders of the Freely Associated States in the Cabinet Room of the White House | May 21, 2019