Rep. TJ Cox on Full Implementation of USMCA

July 1, 2020
Press Release

Today, Rep. TJ Cox (CA-21) released the following statement on the first day of full implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA): 

 

“Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, market uncertainty caused by trade wars and backwards trade policy made it nearly impossible for hardworking farmers and ranchers in the Central Valley to make ends meet,” said Rep. Cox. “Fortunately, the USMCA that went into effect today will help to stabilize the market. The USMCA is a good deal because of the changes the House demanded. Democrats fought for and won changes that will ensure that this trade deal will deliver for American farmers, protect the environment, and improve conditions for workers throughout North America. Now the United States will have a stronger seat at the negotiating table, and a better position to hold our trading partners accountable to upholding their end of the deal.” 

WATCH REP. COX ON USMCA PASSING

 

The improvements to the USMCA fought for and won by House Democrats include; 

 

  • Removal of protections for drug companies by cutting a clause that had promised biologic drug companies 10 years of intellectual property protections, allowing Democrats to pass future legislation that would reduce drug prices, 
  • Stronger enforcement of labor standards by pushing for factories in Mexico to be inspected, as well as supporting labor laws that will allow Mexican workers to form independent unions and give them more control over their contracts, 
  • The addition of environmental protections by including a clause that presumes “an environmental violation affects trade and investment.,” and the creation of an interagency committee to monitor countries’ commitments to environmental standards, and 

The strengthening of dispute settlements by forcing companies to cooperate with the international resolution panel process.   

Issues: 
Agriculture