(NETWORK INDIANA) It’s now been one year since President Trump signed off on the USMCA trade deal with Canada and Mexico.
So far, only Mexico has ratified it. Indiana Sen. Todd Young is joining many prominent Republicans in Congress in urging House Democrats to get the ball rolling on legislation to join Mexico in ratifying the deal.
“I represent the state of Indiana, the most manufacturing intensive state in the country,” Young said on Capitol Hill Tuesday. “One out of four businesses in my state export directly to Canada and Mexico and is responsible for over 60,000 jobs. This deal needs to get done.”
Young said the president has “struck a good deal” with the USMCA that not only helps manufacturing businesses, but also helps Hoosier farmers.
“It’s important to our AG economy. Indiana ranks eighth in terns of AG exports like soy beans, corn, and other commodities,” he said. “This is about saving our rural communities. Nancy Pelosi needs to move forward with this in order to sustain our economic health.”
President Trump is even more frustrated that the deal hasn’t been brought up for ratification yet.
“Can’t believe that Nervous Nancy Pelosi isn’t moving faster on USMCA,” Trump said on Twitter. “Her people want it, they don’t know why she isn’t putting it up for a bipartisan vote. Taking too long!”
Last Thursday, in spite of the criticism from the White House, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said they do plan to “move ahead on USMCA”, but did not say when and how they plan to do so.
The Democrat controlled House of Representatives needs just a simple majority in favor of ratification in order to send it to the Republican controlled Senate.
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Official press release…
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) today discussed the importance of the House of Representatives quickly passing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) for Hoosier farmers and manufacturers.
Signed one year ago, this agreement will modernize the 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and support freer markets, fairer trade, and robust economic growth in North America. With tens of thousands of Hoosier jobs supported by exports to Canada and Mexico, Senator Young supports ratifying this important trade agreement as soon as possible.
“The one thing that remains unfinished business as we look forward, that is so important to our economy, is to pass this USMCA deal. I represent the state of Indiana, the most manufacturing intensive state in the country. One out four manufacturing businesses in my state directly export to Canada or Mexico, resulting in roughly 60,000 jobs,” said Senator Young.
“So it’s important to our manufacturing workers, it’s also very important to our ag economy… 95 percent of our farms in the state of Indiana are family farms… This is about saving our rural communities. President Trump has struck a good deal, a very good deal. Nancy Pelosi needs to move forward with it to sustain our economic health,” Senator Young continues.
Watch the full video of Senator Young’s remarks here.
