WASHINGTON, DC - This afternoon, the Congressional Delegation led by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) concluded its trip to Canada. The members of the delegation had productive meetings in Ottawa on how a new agreement can effectively improve the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
During meetings with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland, Chairman Neal shared that significant progress is being achieved through discussions with the Trump Administration, and emphasized his hope that ultimately USMCA will garner strong bipartisan backing in the United States as well as broad-based support in Canada and Mexico.
“I appreciate the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Trudeau and Foreign Minister Freeland," said Chairman Neal. “I particularly stressed the importance of meaningful enforcement mechanisms that ensure the protection of workers in all three nations and of our shared environment. I’m pleased that our neighbors to the north also have a strong desire for an agreement that benefits our economies while also lifting up our people."
The House Democratic Working Group on NAFTA 2.0 has made substantial progress with USTR Ambassador Robert Lighthizer and his staff. Democrats now seek to resolve the remaining critical questions, which include those regarding worker protections and labor-specific enforcement mechanisms.
