[CTC] Lighthizer hunts for NAFTA middle ground

[Arthur Stamoulis]

Politico Morning Trade

— U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is expected to meet with the USMCA working group today as the two sides push to reach a compromise on outstanding issues.

LIGHTHIZER HUNTS FOR USMCA MIDDLE GROUND: Trump's trade chief is expected to meet with the USMCA working group on Capitol Hill today, for what would be his first sit-down with all nine members since they formally responded to the administration's counterproposals at the end of September. 

Since then, members have been at home for two weeks meeting with constituents and staffers have been in what they say is continuous and productive contact. Democrats maintain that everything is still moving in the right direction.

"Look, this would've broken down weeks and weeks ago if we were not moving and making progress," Rep. Rosa DeLauro <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f47ec51e743e8221063e205298e2e1affbc59fee3090995119b360025823f0e875c2e5883d6c1b3be7e7103a94a6b744> (D-Conn.), who sits on the working group, said Wednesday evening after the group met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f47ec51e743e8221d403908cf431c096c1654abc61be5754f4cd49211bdd8920dc175938e4b7c360d94c82beb64cd0ea>. "We continue to do that: Make progress."

Members and aides cautioned the schedule was still in flux, but DeLauro said there is a meeting planned for today. And Rep. Earl Blumenauer <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f47ec51e743e822161469cf119c7b4bcb466b9847550f7b4b4f81c268c46eb6d77df0953719229e3701bc75309d6642d> (D-Ore.) said early Wednesday that the group hopes to meet with Lighthizer once or possibly twice this week.

Left them on read: Today's meeting, if it happens, comes as members are still waiting for Lighthizer's reply to their latest USMCA offer, which included a request for a response "as soon as possible." Rep. Jimmy Gomez <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f47ec51e743e82210bed0ddbb3b04ec9ccfcc8b5d7b26cccddfc6fdc356ada61eb73c016956b92fa2550b58f84dccce4> (D-Calif.), a working group member, said Wednesday morning that lawmakers had received informal responses but nothing more concrete. 

"We've given him quite a bit of paper," added Rep. John Larson <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f47ec51e743e8221953ee33e5802a758bbccd1f03e0923d93d3cebddaac76496b980b3ae2af132812229d0a84f187575> (D-Conn.), another working group member. "And we've yet to receive back all the responses."

A focus on labor: The two sides have been working to make changes to reflect Democrats' priorities in four core areas: environment, enforcement, access to medicines and labor. Two of those issues appeared to be in the spotlight on Wednesday evening when Lighthizer traveled to the Hill for what working group member Rep. Jan Schakowsky <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f47ec51e743e82211ba2095bb1283576c7bedbd0235a8f3e5afdc680d5e52a368389764394592f027dd861b0a217dc0f> (D-Ill.) called a "labor and enforcement" meeting with the lawmakers overseeing those issues. 

Neither USTR nor spokespeople for the two members overseeing the labor team — Gomez and Rep. Mike Thompson <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f47ec51e743e8221b2197da5ee1ac0c0d4d9bd9b753bda1168e5a4579df63ea884449f994063fcebadadc21d78ef23ea> (D-Calif.) — replied to a request for comment or confirmation.

House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=f47ec51e743e8221cd53afe76f26ca1512f4b76a08b8e2c0f9cdc9259c37b26721337b6fc97f4df556baae41a6e89bb9> (D-Mass.), who chairs the working group, emphasized Democrats' outstanding concerns with the labor provisions on Wednesday. He told reporters that a trip to Mexico City over recess to meet with government officials and discuss Mexico's labor enforcement budget went "very well" but that he was still waiting for the officials' verbal commitment to be formally sent over in writing.

"We need those assurances, because I think it enhances our argument that the labor parts of the agreement remain our priority," Neal said.

Avoiding a plane crash: Gomez acknowledged that some of the issues were further along than others but declined to say where the bulk of the progress had been made.

"We use this metaphor that we need to land the plane. You need to land all four wheels at the same time," he told Morning Trade. "And right now, we're a little tilted to one side."

Arthur Stamoulis
Citizens Trade Campaign
(202) 494-8826




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