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In the late-stage U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement negotiations that ended this week, Mexico accepted a version of a labor enforcement mechanism and penalties for workers’ rights violations it had initially rejected because of a range of additional requirements that were attached to the proposals, Mexico’s chief trade negotiator told Inside U.S. Trade in an interview this week.
More details on the new standards are in the “protocol of amendment” published this week.
BRT: “We are very disappointed that the deal announced yesterday removes or weakens important intellectual property protections.”
“They dropped it due to pressure from industry and the many members of Congress who expressed concern.”
Public Citizen's Lori Wallach said the deal was “not the template for future agreements, but establishes the floor from which we will continue to advocate for a new model of trade and globalization.”
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement will not be brought to a vote in the Senate before it adjourns for the year, Senate Majority Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said on Tuesday, adding that the deal likely will be voted on after the Senate concludes its impeachment trial of President Trump.
At a signing ceremony for an addendum to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on Tuesday, Mexico’s chief trade negotiator disputed “declarations” he said were made in the U.S. by insisting Mexico did not accept a labor-enforcement mechanism involving the deployment of U.S. inspectors.
Mexico has agreed to a “melted and poured” standard for steel used in auto production that won't take effect for seven years, sources tell Inside U.S. Trade.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and House Ways & Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA), along with other Democrats, on Tuesday unveiled new tweaks to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and said a vote on an implementing bill could come as soon as next week.
“Republicans have to realize that the House of Representatives controls half the Congress and there has to be some accommodation as a result of the last elections; elections have consequences."
“President Trump may have opened this deal,” President Richard Trumka said in a statement. “But working people closed it. And for that, we should be very proud.”
After discussing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Monday evening, key House Democrats said they expected an announcement of an adjusted deal to be made on Tuesday, when top officials from the three countries are slated to meet in Mexico.
President Trump on Monday said he was “hearing from unions” that end-stage U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement discussions were turning a corner, lauding what he called an abundance of “strides over the last 24 hours” amid reports that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer was planning to travel to Mexico on Tuesday.
After consulting the Mexican Senate on proposed changes to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Sunday that his government would consider accepting a late-stage U.S. steel demand if it is implemented more than five years after the pact enters into force.
Despite new U.S. demands that have further complicated U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement talks, Mexican Under Secretary for North America Jesús Seade on Friday expressed confidence that all issues could be resolved.
Sen. Cantwell and Rep. DelBene “urge the administration to support robust U.S. assistance for capacity building” through the Labor Department and USAID.