House Democrats Support Updated Trade Deal With Mexico And Canada

Speaker 1: 00:00 Despite today's announcement by democratic leaders that they're drawing up two articles of impeachment against president Trump. The same Democrats announced they've reached a breakthrough with Trump on a new trade deal. After months of negotiations, Democrats and white house negotiators agreed on changes that make it much more likely than new U S MCA trade agreement will be approved. The trade deal will replace NAFTA and give the United States, Mexico and Canada a new framework for to free trade in North America. I spoke with Paula of ULA of the San Diego regional chamber of commerce. She joined us by Skype from Mexico city where a leaders there intend to sign the new trade agreement today. Paolo, welcome to the show. Thank you so much for having me now. Even speaker Nancy Pelosi said today that the new U S MCA agreement with the changes made is a better deal than NAFTA. And here's what she had to say about it when she announced the Democrats support this morning. Speaker 2: 00:57 There is no question, of course, that this, uh, uh, trade agreement is much better than NAFTA. But in terms of our work here, it is infinitely better than what was initially a Pope, uh, proposed by the administration. Speaker 1: 01:13 What are the main points that make the U S MCA different from NAFTA? You know, the, the main points is a new chapter on, on customs, which for our region in particular is a great, is great news as it will improve efficiencies that are border reducing inefficiency, reducing wait times. Ultimately also we have a chapter dedicated to small businesses to help provide resources so that they can take advantage of the trade agreement. And then another point that I'll, uh, I'll make is, um, the labor chapter, which did not exist in NAFTA either and then an environmental chapter, uh, which is new as well. And today's agreement, uh, today's announcement actually adds to the year originally agreed upon USM CA further improving it. How do you think it [inaudible] got to improve conditions for San Diego businesses? Well, like I mentioned, um, the assistance for small businesses. Uh, we know in San Diego, 80% of our businesses are small, small, and medium sized, um, to allow them to help take advantage of the trade agreement with resources on how to, uh, to help them export into these foreign markets. Speaker 1: 02:22 Um, in addition, reducing, uh, procedural, uh, processings which increased costs such as customs processing will reduce costs for the businesses and ultimately the consumer. This new iteration of the U S MCA has stronger labor and environmental provisions. How important is that? Critically important for one, um, the environmental provisions that are going to be announced today, specifically reauthorize the North American development bank and provides funding under the EPA program for border water program that is specifically for us to use at the [inaudible] river Valley. Um, which as you know, has been a tremendous transboundary pollution issue. Now, AFL CIO, president Richard Trumka had been a holdout. He threw his support behind it. He changed his position at us. Seems to have made this deal happen. Uh, how important was it, do you think that that this agreement got his support? Well, we believed from the beginning that this agreement had the support necessary to be ratified in Congress. Speaker 1: 03:32 But now with his additional support, it means we will have broad bipartisan support in Congress. I mean, I expect an overwhelming amount of votes, not just the necessary to pass it, but brought by a broad margin. Now you're in Mexico city for a ceremony today about the new trade agreement. Tell us about that. Well, the ceremony today, we'll be assigning agreement because of the revisions. All three governments need to sign the agreement. Uh, you have the trade commissioner, uh, Friedland from Canada, uh, here in Mexico city. You have the representatives, um, a us trade representative Lighthizer and, uh, Jared Cushner advisor to the president here in Mexico city representing the U S and then of course, several representatives from Mexico. We'll be together, uh, here in, um, right now signing this agreement. And, and I would assume, uh, the Mexican officials that you've been speaking with are pleased with this new agreement. Speaker 1: 04:30 Very much so. On the president this morning in his press conference, I hailed the agreement as a win for Mexico. You say you expect overwhelming support, uh, in the U S Congress now and that this should move on to the president's desk. What kind of timeline do you see for that? I expect, um, I've heard that this will be coming to Congress. It will be, there will be a vote next week. So, um, we will have a holiday gift. Uh, this has been a long road for people who are very much involved in trade as you are at the San Diego regional chamber of commerce. I know how upset you all were when the idea of just getting rid of NAFTA and not having anything to replace it was floated. What kind of a, tell us what this means as you see it to the overall trade picture in our region. Well that's exactly right. This is an overall win for us because it's more than just an economic partnership and reducing barriers to trade. It is an agreement of collaboration and friendship and that is certainly what we need to tackle all the talent, just that we face. We need to collaborate and work together with our nearest neighbors, our partners, Canada and Mexico. And that's what this agreement represents and will solidify. I've been speaking with Paula Avila of the San Diego regional chamber of commerce and Paula, thank you. Thank you so much.