Democrats Challenging Mexicans on New Trade Enforcement Measures

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democrats have added a new wrinkle to the negotiations of a new free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, known as the USMCA. Apparently, Democratic members are pushing for American rights to send inspectors to Mexican factories to evaluate the enforcement of labor rights. Mexico Deputy Foreign Minister Jesus Seade referred to the inspections as an “unacceptable” violation of his country’s sovereignty. Following a meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Wednesday, Seade told reporters a deal was close, “but there are things we cannot accept.” In addition, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CA-D) is also pushing to remove the legal protections of online content which would be a setback for the technology industry that has lobbied to include such language. House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Kevin Brady (TX-R) is urging members to not attach a union pension rescue bill, known as the Butch Lewis Act, to the deal due to the high probability it would lead to a failure in passing the trade deal.