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Garamendi, Thompson among supporters of USMCA trade deal
New trade legislation that has the support of agricultural groups also is receiving bipartisan support, with Lake County’s members of the House of Representatives voting to approve it.
On Thursday, Congressman John Garamendi (CA-03) and Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05), voted to pass the improved United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, trade agreement to support workers, farmers, ranchers and manufacturing in the United States.
California Farm Bureau Federation President Jamie Johansson said the USMCA will benefit all of California – rural and urban – by allowing most California-grown agricultural products improved access to customers in Mexico and Canada.
“Farmers, ranchers and tens of thousands of Californians whose jobs hinge on agricultural exports will gain from the USMCA,” Johansson said. “We hope the Senate will approve the agreement early in the new year, so it can be implemented quickly.”
Johansson said more than 56,000 jobs rely on California food and agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico – the No. 2 and No. 5 foreign markets for the state’s food and farm products.
“The USMCA will bring benefits throughout the food chain,” he said. “Stronger ties with our North American neighbors will help California farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses. The agreement will also maintain and add jobs for people at ports, marketing companies, food processors, trucking firms and other businesses that help move California farm products to customers.”
The bipartisan bill passed the House by a vote of 385-41 and is expected to pass the Senate and be signed into law by the president.
“This agreement includes the strongest possible enforcement mechanisms to support and protect American workers and improve market access for American farmers. As a rancher and a farmer, I know how critically important it is to correct the flaws in NAFTA and pass a trade agreement that supports America’s farmers and workers,” Garamendi said.
“I’m grateful for the months of negotiations House Democrats undertook to secure landmark changes to the USMCA that deliver for America’s workers, and our economy. The transformative changes House Democrats secured in this agreement earned the support of the AFL-CIO, the California Farm Bureau Federation, and other key stakeholders. I’m pleased this legislation has passed the House, and I will work to ensure it becomes law,” Garamendi concluded.
“The trade agreement originally presented to Congress earlier this year missed the mark, offering few benefits for American workers, lacking protections for our environment, and making prescription drugs more expensive. The original deal was unenforceable, a non-starter for me and my colleagues,” said Thompson, who also is a member of the eight-person United States Mexico Canada Working Group.
“After months of negotiations by me and others as members of the Working Group led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, we now have the best deal possible,” Thompson said. “This improved agreement truly protects labor rights, the future of our environment and the ability to lower the costs of medications. And for the first time in the history of our trade negotiations, this deal includes enforcement provisions, ensuring bad actors are held accountable. I was proud to vote yes today and urge Senate Majority Leader McConnell to schedule a vote quickly so we can get this done for the American people.”
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue also lauded the agreement’s passage.
“I’ve long said that support for USMCA crosses political parties, the bipartisan passage of the agreement today is proof of that,” Secretary Perdue said. “I am pleased the House finally brought this agreement to a vote and encourage quick passage in the Senate. President Trump delivered on his promise to replace NAFTA and USMCA is a huge success for America’s farmers and ranchers. This agreement will unleash the bounty of America’s agricultural harvest to two of our largest trading partners in the world and it is critical to the success of rural America.”