What Republicans and Democrats say about America’s new trade deal

The White House • October 2, 2018

What Republicans and Democrats say about America’s new trade deal

From the White House Rose Garden yesterday, President Donald J. Trump announced America’s newest trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. The deal, which turns the page on the 24-year-old NAFTA, modernizes and rebalances the relationship with two of America’s biggest trade partners.

The wave of support that followed yesterday’s announcement was broad—and revealing, including Republicans, Democrats, business leaders, and labor unions:

• Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY): “As someone who voted against NAFTA and opposed it for many years, I knew it needed fixing. The president deserves praise for taking large steps to improve it.”
• House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA): “President Trump has proved his critics wrong again by delivering on his promise to renegotiate NAFTA in America’s favor.”
• Vox’s Alexia Fernández Campbell: “Trump’s new trade deal is better for workers than NAFTA was.”
• United Steelworkers International President Leo Gerard on new worker’s rights provisions: “Stronger than the rejected Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). It goes farther than any prior trade agreement.”

One big problem with NAFTA is that it left American manufacturers in the dust. The new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) incentivizes billions of dollars in additional U.S. vehicle and auto parts production, among other wins for American exporters. “Manufacturers are extremely encouraged that our call for a trilateral agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico has been answered,” National Association of Manufacturers President Jay Timmons says.

Protection for American farmers was also notably absent from NAFTA. No longer, as new provisions—including one that eliminates Canada’s “Class 7” program used to undersell American dairy products—will provide new market access for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness. “This was a hard-fought win,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said of the USMCA.

USMCA wins bipartisan praise as a victory for American workers

In case you missed it: Newly negotiated USMCA puts American interests first

Good news for Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck

“National wage growth is at the highest it’s been in nearly 17 months — and, according to a new study released by Glassdoor, it’s not expected to slow down anytime soon,” Megan Henney reports for Fox News today.

The booming American comeback is good news for all workers, but this latest headline is especially positive for Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck, as those paychecks are getting a little bigger on average. 

“We expect wages to continue to rise as demand remains for workers throughout a number of industries,” Glassdoor economist Daniel Zhao said. Henney reports that wages grew 2.6 percent year-over-year from 2017, rising to $52,664. Some industries, such as certain health care roles, saw annual pay grow by as much as nearly 7 percent.

Fox Business: “US Wage Growth Hits 17-Month High”

Photo of the Day

Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead

A line of law enforcement officers salute as President Donald J. Trump’s motorcade arrives at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia | October 2, 2018