North American Free Trade Agreement

Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Martha Bárcena on Wednesday suggested that Mexico, Canada and the U.S. take preparatory steps toward establishing a dispute-settlement roster for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement ahead of U.S. ratification, recognizing some U.S. lawmakers' concerns over the deal's enforceability.

As Congress prepares to return to work next week following a lengthy recess, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has yet to submit formal, comprehensive counterproposals to the House Democrats’ U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement working group, according to a House Ways & Means Committee spokeswoman.

“There’s serious reform that I want to see at the Ex-Im Bank before I’m going to support reauthorization,” he said, adding he was prepared to work with the bank's president on those changes.

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) will not vote for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement in its current form, he said on Tuesday, adding it was “very unlikely” any changes could be made to the pact to win his support.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and a delegation of U.S. labor leaders are set to visit Mexico City next week to seek “guarantees” from President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and other officials that Mexico will uphold its obligations and dedicate necessary resources outlined in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

"Tell them, when they get back to Capitol Hill in a few weeks, that they need to tell Speaker Nancy Pelosi to put the USMCA on the floor and vote it."

DES MOINES, IA -- A burgeoning deal with Japan would account for 90 percent of what U.S. agriculture producers lost when the U.S. pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said on Monday.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) does not believe an “early harvest” deal between the U.S. and Japan would need to be approved by Congress and contends the U.S. should not be concerned with the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement when it considers the prospects of a trade deal with the United Kingdom, he said Tuesday.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has told House lawmakers he is committed to examining the ins and outs of U.S. de minimis policy, a concern for many due in part to a provision in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.