Page 2 - AT

A2 UP FRONT
Friday 20 december 2019
After impeachment, House bestows big trade victory on Trump

Continued from Front paying manufacturing jobs
in the U.S. as companies
But it gives lawmakers from moved production to low-
both parties the chance wage Mexico. Trump distin-
to support an agreement guished himself from free-
sought by farmers, ranch- trade Republicans in the
ers and business owners presidential primary with
anxious to move past the his NAFTA-bashing rhetoric,
months of trade tensions and his administration got
that have complicated Canada and Mexico to ne-
spending and hiring deci- gotiate a rewrite.
sions. The International Trade
The GOP-controlled Senate Commission projected in
probably will take up the April that the agreement
legislation when members would boost the econo-
return to Washington after my by $68 billion and add
the holidays and after deal- 176,000 jobs six years after
ing with impeachment. taking effect.
“Critics said it couldn’t Some of the biggest im-
be done, but he made it pacts would be felt in the
happen. Another promise U.S. automotive industry.
made, another promise The agreement aims to see
kept,” said House Minority more cars produced where
Leader Kevin McCarthy, R- Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, right, greets U.S. Trade Representative Robert workers earn an average of
Calif. Lighthizer, during an event to sign an update to the North American Free Trade Agreement, at the at least $16 an hour.
Some said the agreement national palace in Mexico City, Tuesday, Dec. 10. 2019. The commission found that
did not do enough to pre- Associated Press the new agreement would
vent U.S. jobs from relocat- create 30,000 jobs in Ameri-
ing to Mexico, but it won “I never thought the day and Mexico. “We knew oped countries with a poor, can auto parts plants. On
praise from Democrats would come when we we could do better,” Pelosi developing country. Since the down side, the commis-
who have routinely voted would have the opportu- said. then, trade with Canada sion found the pact would
against prior trade agree- nity to right some of the The original NAFTA phased and Mexico has increased increase the cost of pickup
ments. wrongs in that agreement.” out nearly all tariffs on more rapidly than trade trucks and cars. That would
“Twenty-six years ago, I op- Pelosi said the agreement goods produced and trad- with most other countries. hurt demand and reduce
posed NAFTA with every was “light years” ahead ed within North America. It Democrats for years have the number of jobs in fac-
bone in my body,” said of what the administration was extraordinary because charged that NAFTA led tories that assemble cars by
Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. negotiated with Canada it linked two wealthy, devel- to massive losses of high- about 1,500. q