Kinzinger Statement on USMCA Passage

Statement

Today, Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) voted in favor of H.R. 5430, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Implementation Act. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support and will replace the outdated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), established in January of 1994.

After House passage of the USMCA legislation, Congressman Kinzinger released this statement:

"The passage of the USMCA today is long overdue, but a big win for the American people and our economy. Bringing this trade deal into the 21st century will give our workers, farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and innovators a chance to compete in the international market and allowing for better digital trade opportunities. The USMCA will also create 176,000 new jobs in America and produce over $68 billion in new economic activity.

"Illinois currently ranks third in the country for exporting agricultural commodities, and the USMCA will provide more certainty through streamlined customs procedures that would reduce inefficiencies and get U.S. products to the market faster."

The USMCA has strong support across the country, and especially throughout Illinois. The Congressman is pleased to have the support of the Illinois Farm Bureau, Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the Illinois Corn Growers Association, the Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA), and many others in pushing for passage of the USMCA in Congress.

"Big thanks to Rep. Kinzinger for his strong, vocal support of USMCA," said Illinois Farm Bureau president Richard Guebert, Jr., a grain farmer from Randolph County in southern Illinois. "Without growing international market demand, farming becomes a lot more difficult and we've seen recent evidence of that. Congressman Kinzinger has spent a lot of time with farmers in his district and absolutely understands the importance of exports to our bottom line."

"The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is grateful to Rep. Kinzinger for his efforts to modernize and strengthen trade across North America and for his vote in favor of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement," said Dennis Slater, President of AEM. "The agreement ensures continued duty-free access to our industry's largest export markets, creates tens of thousands of news jobs, and adds $68 million to the U.S. economy. We applaud Rep. Kinzinger for his work to ensure the continued growth and prosperity of our industry, the local communities we serve, and the 119,000 hard working men and women of the equipment manufacturing industry in Illinois."

"Today's USMCA passage will be stability to the marketplace that Illinois corn farmers desperately need. Mexico is the largest purchaser of corn and dried distillers grains with soluables. Canada is the second largest purchaser of ethanol. Together, our neighbors make up our largest and most reliable customers for corn and 25 percent of U.S. agricultural trade. I am so pleased and grateful for an agreement that solidifies our relationship," said Bill Leigh, President of the Illinois Corn Growers Association.

"Trade is critical to Illinois manufacturers and the 592,000 women and men working on factory floors across the state. No trade relationships are more important than Canada and Mexico that purchased 40 percent -- $27 billion -- of Illinois' manufactured exports last year. We applaud Congressman Kinzinger for supporting the USMCA trade agreement that will benefit our local manufacturers," said Mark Denzler, President and CEO of IMA.

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