USMCA Clears Senate Right Before Starting Trial

After two years of negotiations, delays, and tweaks, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is back on President Trump’s desk, awaiting his signature after the Senate overwhelmingly passed it Thursday. The 89-10 vote means the U.S. has all but ratified the deal expected to increase U.S. agricultural exports to our neighbors by two billion dollars annually. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called the NAFTA replacement a key priority for the Trump Administration and American farmers.

The year-long wait for House passage last month while Democrats demanded changes, short-circuited a full Senate review and became political fodder for Republicans. Top trade Democrat Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon defended the delay…

Beating the start of the impeachment trial of President Trump, USMCA was cleared by seven committees over a week. Both Missouri Senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley voted in support of the USMCA.

Agriculture organizations were overwhelmingly pleased to see the passage of USMCA. National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Ross said the vote ensures “corn farmers will continue to have access to our largest and most reliable markets.” Mexico is a top destination for U.S. corn. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says USMCA “comes at a critical time for farmers and ranchers, increasing optimism that we’ll turn the corner in 2020.” Outgoing National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson also offered congratulations, saying that while the deal was imperfect, the group was “particularly encouraged by the inclusion of stronger labor standards, more robust enforcement mechanisms, and better environmental protections.”