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Slotkin Statement on Passage of the USMCA Trade Agreement

December 19, 2019

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) released the following statement following the bipartisan passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). USMCA is a free trade agreement negotiated between the United States, Canada, and Mexico to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which entered into force in 1994 and has had a detrimental impact on jobs and the economy in Michigan.

Since being sworn in, Slotkin has met with countless stakeholders, including labor leaders, workers, agricultural industry leaders, small businesses, and auto industry leaders to understand their concerns with NAFTA and USMCA. In the final weeks of negotiation, Slotkin met with multiple trade experts to take a deep dive on the final agreement and what it would do for Michigan workers and Michigan business.

In June, Rep Slotkin joined 26 of her colleagues in calling on United States Trade Representative Ambassador Lighthizer and the Administration to work with House Democrats to improve the deal that was originally negotiated by the Administration. Because of these efforts, the final version of USMCA has addressed concerns regarding pharmaceutical give-aways, ineffective enforcement mechanisms, and weak labor and environmental provisions.

"While the USMCA is far from a perfect agreement, it is one that will, on net, benefit our economy, and I voted to pass it today," Slotkin said. "The original draft negotiated by the Administration was flawed, and claims that it would return jobs to the United States by the thousands was strongly misleading. I'm proud that tough negotiations secured changes that labor leaders, workers, farmers, and small businesses in our district have been pushing for -- including removing a big give-away to pharmaceutical companies. In the meantime, the USMCA is an important step in the right direction for Michigan workers, and will give economic certainty that is critical to Michigan farmers and Michigan businesses."

"Of course, as with any deal, the effectiveness of USMCA will come down to the enforcement of the agreement — a central failing of NAFTA. Throughout my career in national security, I negotiated many international agreements on tough national security issues and I know that a deal is only as good as our ability to enforce it. That's why it is my hope that the enforcement mechanisms laid out in USMCA will be tested early to demonstrate their effectiveness and deter future violations. To that end, I have encouraged Labor to use the new enforcement channels as soon as necessary. I have also called upon my colleagues to set up a committee that specifically tracks enforcement of the agreement.The Administration and the Congress should remain as focused on the fair and effective implementation of USMCA as they have been on its negotiation and passage."

Slotkin pledged to continue working closely with workers and unions across the 8th Congressional district — including autoworkers, communication workers, and the aerospace industry — to address the offshoring of American jobs beyond this trade agreement.

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