Rep. Doggett on Recent Trade Developments

Image

Rep. Doggett on Recent Trade Developments

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), a senior member of the Trade Subcommittee of Ways & Means, released the below statement regarding the recent trade developments:

"Once again, President Trump is announcing a victory before he has an agreement, much as he declared away the North Korean nuclear threat after a handshake in Singapore. Finally abandoning his unhinged threats to abolish NAFTA, Trump is settling for abolishing the name ‘NAFTA.' This is typical Trump—planning to tweet and tell his rallies he did something that he did not in fact do.

While avoiding a trade war against Mexico, our #1 Texas trading partner, we cannot secure a complete, improved North American agreement without Canada, our #2 trading partner. Nor can we have a true 21^st Century NAFTA without stronger environmental and labor provisions, and better implementation and enforcement mechanisms, than currently exist. Canada is particularly important in the auto, aircraft and electronics manufacturing supply chains, and in timber for local homebuilders and newsprint for publications.

I am reviewing the details thoroughly, talking with the United States Trade Representative, and welcoming advice from the many in Texas who are impacted by NAFTA. I am pleased that this tentative agreement apparently excludes both any Mexican renationalization of its energy sector and so-called ‘seasonality' language that would have been harmful to HEB—and to all of us, as consumers of Mexican produce."

Follow Lloyd Doggett

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RepLloydDoggett | Twitter: @RepLloydDoggett | Instagram: replloyddoggett