O'Halleran Votes to Ratify USMCA Agreement

Statement

Today, Congressman Tom O'Halleran joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to vote to ratify the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a new North American trade deal that would promote economic growth, strengthen protections for laborers and our environment, promote international trade, enhance compliance monitoring, and create enforcement provisions that would increase accountability for all trading partners.

"I am focused on growing Arizona's economy, creating new, good-paying jobs, and strengthening our rural communities," said Rep. O'Halleran. "Today, I was proud to join my colleagues to vote for this bipartisan, bicameral effort that will improve international trade in North America, spur the creation of new jobs, ensure protections for our hardworking labor community, and preserve important environmental standards."

The USMCA agreement ratified in the House today includes

-fixes to NAFTA loopholes that allowed countries to avoid being held accountable and introduces new rules to make enforcement more effective;
-the creation of an interagency committee that will monitor Mexico's labor reform implementation and compliance with labor and environmental obligations;
-additional funding to address land and water pollution in the desert southwest;
-preservations that ensure Congress' ability to bring down the high costs of prescription drugs by promoting fair competition.

"I personally met with U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Lighthizer on several occasions to discuss necessary provisions within this deal," continued O'Halleran. "After months of important negotiations, I am pleased to see that this final agreement is a triumph for hardworking families, our Arizona agriculture producers, businesses of all sizes, and rural communities that are too often overlooked."

According to the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, between 1994 and 2017, Arizona's exports to Mexico grew from $2.4 billion per year, to $7.7. billion--a 311% increase. Currently, over 200,000 jobs in Arizona alone depend on trade with Mexico and Canada. A study from the International Trade Commission found that the USMCA, if ratified, would add an estimated $68.2 billion to the economy and create 176,000 new jobs.

In a statement following today's vote, O'Halleran said, "Today, I am pleased that we were able to come together as a legislative body to deliver hardworking Americans a trade deal that will ensure economic development in rural communities, plus up enforcement powers that protect our workers and our environment, and ensure that all three nations are complying with these important standards. I look forward to seeing this important agreement move through the Senate and to the President's desk for a signature."

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement enjoys support from AFL-CIO, Teamsters, United Steelworkers, the American Farm Bureau, the National Restaurant Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and countless other labor, environmental, and business advocacy groups.

The USMCA passed the house on a 385 -- 41 vote.

Source