Canada

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Thursday sent lawmakers a draft statement of administrative action on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, starting the 30-day clock allowing for the submission of final implementing legislation to Capitol Hill.

The Mexican president predicted the deal would be ratified soon by all three parties.

CBC said it was written to give the federal cabinet the ability to make changes it “considers necessary for the purpose of implementing, in relation to drugs, Articles 20.48 to 20.50 of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.”

The Trudeau government has been cleared to introduce a USMCA implementing bill in Parliament.

Witnesses at a House hearing on Wednesday offered House lawmakers several suggestions -- including a more robust version of a proposal advanced by two Democratic senators -- for how the administration could enforce the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, though all agreed that unilateral action under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act would be inadequate.

As U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer continues to meet with Democrats to push for the ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, many maintain that the removal of the Section 232 tariffs on Canada and Mexico was merely a step in a larger process toward moving the deal to a vote -- a process that could involve small groups of lawmakers to deal with the most pressing issues.

The U.S. will eliminate Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada and Mexico in exchange for the repeal of retaliatory duties on U.S. goods, though all parties retain authority to re-impose 25 and 10 percent tariffs if there is a surge in imports and consultations about the sudden increase fail.