Border Trade Alliance hails House passage of USMCA

WASHINGTON (December 19, 2019) – Border Trade Alliance President Ms. Britton Clarke and BTA Chair Paola Avila issued the following statements following the U.S. House of Representatives’ adoption of legislation to implement the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement:

BTA President Ms. Britton Clarke:

“Today’s historic action takes a critical step in modernizing U.S. trade policy for the 21^st century. The cross-border trade community applauds U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and members of the House who delivered the passage of this legislation with a strong, bipartisan vote. We look forward to a similar result in the U.S. Senate as together we solidify North America’s economic competitiveness for the decades to come.”

BTA Chair Paola Avila:

“The Border Trade Alliance thanks the House of Representatives and the administration’s negotiating team for making possible today’s adoption of legislation to implement the USMCA and assure that North American trade remains tariff-free. Not only does USMCA modernize an essential U.S. trade agreement, but the bill contains some important provisions that will help ensure that the environmental infrastructure of the U.S.-Mexico border region is enhanced. Passage for the USMCA is the right thing for the country and for border states and we applaud today’s outcome.”

Additional statements from the BTA regarding USMCA from over the past year can be found below:

• Border Trade Alliance applauds agreement on USMCA, urges bipartisan vote for passage
• 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.