[CTC] Liberal wing of Democrats comes out against NAFTA replacement

[Arthur Stamoulis]

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/12/democrats-against-nafta-replacement-1263704

Liberal wing of Democrats comes out against NAFTA replacement
The Congressional Progressive Caucus announced Tuesday that it formally opposes President Donald Trump’s new North American trade agreement, marking the largest bloc of congressional members to come out against the new deal with Canada and Mexico.

“We are taking a position as the Progressive Caucus against the current proposal,” Rep. Mark Pocan, co-chair of the caucus, told reporters. “We want to make sure we have a bill that works for labor, for the environment, for consumers. We especially find the provisions around pharma very egregious.”

Some House Democrats have been staking out their positions on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement in recent weeks. Prevailing concerns have centered on how the pact’s labor and environmental standards will be enforced. Several lawmakers have also been critical of intellectual property protections that they say could lock in high prescription drug prices.

Pocan said their concerns about pharmaceuticals “goes beyond caucus members and we’re going to be taking a very strong lead on that.” He also acknowledged that there’s a “slight improvement” in the labor language when compared with NAFTA, but that it would be “meaningless” without strong enforcement mechanisms.
Some House Democrats have been staking out their positions on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement in recent weeks. Prevailing concerns have centered on how the pact’s labor and environmental standards will be enforced. Several lawmakers have also been critical of intellectual property protections that they say could lock in high prescription drug prices.

Pocan said their concerns about pharmaceuticals “goes beyond caucus members and we’re going to be taking a very strong lead on that.” He also acknowledged that there’s a “slight improvement” in the labor language when compared with NAFTA, but that it would be “meaningless” without strong enforcement mechanisms.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is scheduled to meet with the House Democratic caucus on Wednesday for a full presentation on the deal. 




Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826




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