Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 17 January 2020
Senate passes U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade deal, a Trump priority

By KEVIN FREKING to pay more money for a
Associated Press car and therefore will have
WASHINGTON (AP) — The less money available for
Senate overwhelmingly ap- any of the other things they
proved a new North Ameri- would like to consume,"
can trade agreement Toomey said. "It will prob-
Thursday that rewrites the ably lead to an increase or
rules of trade with Canada acceleration in the shift to
and Mexico and gives Pres- automation."
ident Donald Trump a ma- The agreement aims to
jor policy win before sena- have more cars produced
tors turn their full attention in the United States, where
to his impeachment trial. workers earn an average
The vote was 89-10. The of at least $16 an hour. It
measure goes to Trump also secured changes that
for his signature. It would require Mexico to change
replace the 25-year-old its laws to make it easier for
North American Free Trade workers to form indepen-
Agreement, known as NAF- dent unions, which should
TA, which tore down most improve worker conditions
trade barriers and triggered and wages and reduce
a surge in trade. But Trump the incentive for U.S. com-
and other critics blamed panies to relocate their
that pact for encouraging plants.
U.S. companies to move Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Chrystia Freeland, left, Mexico's top trade negotiator Jesus While the administration
Seade, center, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, sign an update to the North
their manufacturing plants American Free Trade Agreement, at the national palace in Mexico City, Tuesday, Dec. 10. 2019. completed its negotiations
south of the border to take Associated Press with Canada and Mexico
advantage of low-wage more than a year ago,
Mexican laborers. "Quite a week of substan- moments before Congress gives lawmakers from both Democrats in the House
Passage of the trade bill, tive accomplishments for opened an impeachment parties the chance to cite insisted on changes that
which has come to be the nation, for the presi- trial, with House Democrats progress on an important they said made it more
called USMCA, came one dent and for our interna- reading the formal charges economic issue before the likely Mexico would fol-
day after Trump signed tional trade," said Senate from the well of the Senate. November vote. low through on its com-
a new trade agreement Majority Leader Mitch Mc- With the trial and an elec- Trump campaigned in 2016 mitments. As part of those
with China, easing trade Connell, R-Ky., shortly be- tion year, Congress is not on ripping up trade deals negotiations, the admin-
tensions between the eco- fore the vote. expected to pass many that he said added to the istration agreed to drop a
nomic powers. The final vote occurred just major bills. The trade bill nation's trade deficit and provision that offered ex-
cost the country manufac- pensive biologic drugs —
turing jobs. made from living cells — 10
He promised he would re- years of protection from
write NAFTA if elected, a cheaper knockoff com-
pact he described as "the petition. Democrats over-
worst trade deal in history." whelming opposed that
He can now go to swing provision.
states such as Michigan, Republicans and the presi-
Pennsylvania and Wiscon- dent have complained
sin, and tell voters he fol- about how long it took to
lowed through on that complete the negotiations,
pledge. but the talks resulted in a
"Today, we just had passed rare mix of support for a
the USMCA. It's going to trade agreement.
take the place of NAFTA, The AFL-CIO, an associa-
which is a terrible deal, and tion of trade unions, en-
the USMCA will probably dorsed the measure, as did
be second to this witch scores of business and farm
hunt hoax," Trump said. groups. "Getting the Cham-
Mexico has already ap- ber of Commerce and the
proved the agreement. AFL-CIO to both endorse
Canada is expected to this trade deal was no easy
do so in coming months, feat, and it took both sides'
with Prime Minister Justin good faith efforts to get
Trudeau's government long us here," said Sen. Charles
insisting it would wait for Grassley, R-Iowa.
U.S. approval before pro- The biggest holdouts were
ceeding. environmental groups,
Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., which continue their op-
was a rare voice in speak- position, saying the deal
ing against the United doesn't address climate
States-Mexico-Canada change. Indeed, they
Agreement. "It will mean contend the agreement
higher prices for American would contribute to rising
consumers, who will have temperatures.q