North American Free Trade Agreement

A new wrench has been thrown into U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement negotiations between Mexican Under Secretary for North America Jesús Seade and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, a key lawmaker told reporters on Thursday.

The inclusion of Section 230-like language in trade agreements has sparked bipartisan pushback in Congress.

Republican lawmakers on Wednesday expressed concern about reports the Trump administration is willing to give up language on protections for biologic drugs in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, but one ardent supporter of strong data exclusivity provisions in trade deals suggested the move would not affect his support for USMCA.

Farmers for Free Trade sent a letter to congressional leaders on Tuesday urging quick ratification of the deal.

“As it is, the window of opportunity for 2019 is extremely tight.”

Lawmakers identified include Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), a member of the House Ways & Means trade subcommittee and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN).

Mexico and Canada must be informed of any deal struck in the U.S.

The House’s “complete focus” on impeachment could leave USMCA behind, the Senate Finance Committee Chairman said.

An addendum to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement outlining accords struck by the Trump administration and a group of House Democrats will close a loophole that allows the blocking of dispute-settlement panels, a senior Mexican official told Inside U.S. Trade, warning that other enforcement approaches could result in the deal’s rejection.