“The finish line is in sight,” organization says.
WASHINGTON (December 10, 2019) – The Border Trade Alliance applauds Speaker Pelosi and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal for reaching an agreement with the administration and the negotiating team led by United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that paves the way for the formal adoption of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA.
Since last fall, the Border Trade Alliance, which advocates for pro-trade policies on behalf of a network of public and private sector stakeholders, has been actively advocating for congressional leaders to bring the USMCA to a vote and for lawmakers of both parties to support the agreement.
“We appreciate Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Neal for working diligently with the administration and Ambassador Lighthizer to reach an agreement on the USMCA that will facilitate a broad, bipartisan vote,” BTA Chair Paola Avila said. “The finish line is in sight. We urge all House members to vote ‘yes’ for USMCA and for their colleagues in the Senate to do the same.”
The USMCA modernizes the North American Free Trade Agreement, which has been in place for more than 25 years, in a number of key areas.
“NAFTA has been a central component of North American prosperity since 1994, but it’s time to bring U.S. trade policy into the 21st century,” BTA President Ms. Britton Clarke said. “From digital trade, to customs efficiencies, to small business, USMCA means new jobs and more robust economic growth. It’s the right trade agreement at the right time, and we’re confident it will pass by a wide a margin.”
As part of its more than yearlong advocacy on behalf of USMCA, the BTA has published the following:
- Congressional ratification of the USMCA is essential to maintaining U.S. competitiveness, economic health
- Border Trade Alliance makes case for USMCA on Capitol Hill
- Border Trade Alliance: New ITC report makes clear case for USMCA’s adoption
- BTA response to ITC assessment of USMCA
- Border Trade Alliance applauds trilateral trade accord reached by U.S., Canada and Mexico
- S. should seek to maintain competitiveness through reductions in tariffs, modernized trade agreements
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Since 1986, the BTA has served as a grassroots, non-profit organization that provides a forum for discussion and advocacy on issues pertaining to border development and quality of life and trade in the Americas. A network of public and private sector representatives from the United States, Mexico and Canada, BTA’s core values include a commitment to improving the quality of life of border communities through trade and commerce. The BTA is online at thebta.org and @borderalliance.
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