Ag Policy Blog

Senate to Carry USMCA Across Goal Line

Jerry Hagstrom
By  Jerry Hagstrom , DTN Political Correspondent
The USMCA trade deal could finally cross the goal line if the Senate agrees to vote on it Thursday. (DTN file image)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday that the Senate will vote on the bill to implement the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade this week, and several senators said the vote will be Thursday, Bloomberg reported.

McConnell had said earlier that the Senate would not vote on USMCA until after the trial on the impeachment of President Donald Trump. But the Democratic-controlled House’s slowness in delivering articles of impeachment to the Republican-controlled Senate has apparently created a window for the USMCA vote.

By Wednesday, all the committees with jurisdiction over the USMCA are expected to approve the implementing legislation. The bill is expected to pass the Senate easily. It has already passed the House.

On the presidential debate stage late Tuesday, each Democrat said they support the USMCA except Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Sanders criticized the trade deal, saying it will continue to outsource jobs to Mexico and does not address climate change. Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota both said they would vote for the trade pact. Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg and Tom Steyer also said they support USMCA.

Jerry Hagstrom can be reached at jhagstrom@njdc.com

Follow him on Twitter @hagstromreport

(TN/)

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