United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is still pending before Congress and being stonewalled due to partisan bickering.  For the good of New Mexico and our country, the USMCA needs to be passed.

The New Mexico Business Coalition (NMBC) took the lead in supporting the USMCA and was involved in nationwide calls supporting the measure. It is a trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada that was signed by President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on Nov. 30, 2018, but is still awaiting approval by the U.S. Congress. It would replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which was enacted in January 1994 under President Bill Clinton. 

NAFTA caused the loss of approximately 700,000 jobs as it increased trade difficulties causing companies to either stop trading or to move operations out of the U.S. It is anticipated the USMCA could bring more than 125,000 jobs to the U.S. by reducing some tariffs and encouraging more abundant trade between the three countries. New Mexico would be one of the primary beneficiaries of the USMCA because of its proximity to Mexico as new markets for our products, including energy, are created.   

So what’s the hold up?  Congress!  Instead of New Mexico’s Congressional representatives taking the lead and pushing to get this agreement ratified, they are stonewalling its passage over partisan politics. This does not represent the interests of their constituents nor benefit the state of New Mexico. It’s time to stop the partisan stonewalling and move this agreement to completion. If there is a problem with the agreement, it needs to be identified and a solution proposed. Simply opposing the USMCA because our president supports it is just wrong.

CALL TO ACTION:

1.) Call New Mexico’s Congressional delegation and ask them to support passing the USMCA:

• 1^stDistrict Debra Haaland: Washington Office (202) 225-6316, Albuquerque Office (505) 346-6781
• 2^ndDistrict Xochitl Torres Small: Washington Office (202) 225-2365, Las Cruces office (575) 323-6384
• 3^rdDistrict Ben Ray Luján: Washington Office (202) 225-6190, Santa Fe Office (505) 984-8950

2.) Call House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and ask her to bring USMCA to the floor for a vote, (202) 225-4965.