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USMCA momentum following Wednesday meeting

USMCA ratification this year seems more likely following a meeting Wednesday between U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and House Democrats.

House Ways and Means Committee chairman Richard Neal, who’s leading the caucus’ nine-member USMCA working group, told reporters differences have narrowed considerably.  He says a couple of bumps in the road last week have been smoothed out.

Many farmers would like to see the agreement ratified by Congress.  Les Anderson in southeast Minnesota tells Brownfield not getting the deal done in 2019 is unacceptable.

“The President delivered (USMCA) to Congress over a year ago, and it’s been sitting there all this time. They’ve got to get going on that deal.”

Another member of the USMCA working group, California representative Jimmy Gomez, says negotiations have entered the most difficult phase.  He says Democrats are trying to block out as much noise as possible with less than three weeks left on the legislative calendar because anything could knock negotiations off track.