With little opposition in the nation, Mexico’s Senate ratified the “new NAFTA” on a 114-4 vote on Wednesday, making Mexico the first country to approve the free trade agreement. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada is to meet President Trump at the White House Thursday to discuss the path forward on the pact.
U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer told senators on Tuesday that an implementing bill could be sent to Capitol Hill “very soon,” assuming congressional objections are resolved. House Democrats want stricter protections on labor, the environment, and pharmaceuticals as well as tougher enforcement language.
“Congratulations to President Lopez Obrador — Mexico voted to ratify the USMCA today by a huge margin. Time for Congress to do the same,” tweeted Trump.
“If the Trump administration can reach an agreement with the Democrats, the Canadians will likely press ahead on a vote this summer — even if it means calling members of parliament back from their summer break,” said the Washington Post.
Farm groups support adoption of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, as the tri-national pact is formally named.