DeLauro Statement on President Trump’s Dismissal of USMCA Renegotiation

WASHINGTON —Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro issued the following statement criticizing President Trump’s claim that the United States-Mexico-Canda trade agreement (USMCA) is “irrelevant”:

“I led 104 Democratic members of Congress in urging renegotiation of USMCA because it is failing American workers. President Trump’s claims that it is ‘irrelevant’ show that he remains in the pockets of big business which is happy with the status quo. 

“Since enactment of the USMCA, multinational corporations have continued to use the threat of offshoring as leverage wielded against workers standing up for dignity on the job and a share of the profits generated by their hard work – and far too often, enabled by our trade deals, companies have acted on these threats. The U.S. trade deficit with Mexico and Canada has significantly increased, and surging USMCA imports have undermined American workers and farmers and firms in the auto, steel, aerospace, and other sectors.

“If President Trump does not commit to renegotiating USMCA in a bipartisan fashion to strengthen worker protections, American workers will continue to pay the price. Democrats are at the table, ready to fight for what they deserve—it is past time the President joins us.” 

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