[CTC] Ways and Means Democrats attack NAFTA's environmental language

[Arthur Stamoulis]

Letter attached…

POLITICO Pro
Ways and Means Democrats attack USMCA's environmental language

By Megan Cassella 
04/17/2019 11:54 AM EDT

House Ways and Means Democrats are detailing numerous concerns they have with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's environmental provisions, which they say address only some of the "key demands" they laid out for the Trump administration a year ago.

In a letter <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=14e96e8c6d76121ae6896b8053694c8487c7144945a2713410e9f69dfa519345825d7111fe64d7dfdaf6b677981354ad> dated Wednesday to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the panel's 25 Democrats said they remain unconvinced that the new pact will go far enough to significantly improve environmental standards in Mexico.

One example they cite is how U.S. companies have been exporting used lead batteries to Mexico to avoid U.S. restrictions that do not exist south of the border. The practice, they said, has led to a higher risk of lead poisoning in Mexico and American border towns. The new agreement does nothing to stop the practice, they said.

"The lack of consistent environmental standards in North America promotes the exportation of pollution between nations," the Democrats wrote.

The letter is the third in a series <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=14e96e8c6d76121af0bd0d22f49ca9783739c2ddb7e949ce9909a2fc9ee9086e1bb101fbb4f2b360a61e41469da65885> of missives the panel's Democrats have sent to Lighthizer this month outlining other concerns with the pact's labor standards <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=14e96e8c6d76121a81d44c5a8bcf9ac0a021857f63752079abeb39a9d15503a8682b18c621312d7447622e2cbaac3beb> and overall enforcement measures. 

The latest letter says both the environmental standards themselves and the enforcement measures in place to uphold those provisions are too weak.

"It should be obvious that enforcement in an improved, new NAFTA cannot rely on the broken elements of the existing NAFTA's dispute settlement procedures," the lawmakers wrote.

They note they are "particularly disappointed" that the updated deal fails to include standards outlined in what's known as the May 10th Agreement <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=14e96e8c6d76121af40d03c74ebb13f4bd14ebcaba3a994bc8c62223f6f2c1b8a499256d9eb7e11b5084e1f1a119c4c5> — a 2007 deal between Republicans and Democrats that outlines how to treat labor, environment and intellectual property issues in trade deals.

The Democrats also complain that the environment chapter does not include "any apparent provisions directed at mitigating the effects of climate change."


Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826



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