FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9-27-18
Contact: Aaron White – Phone: 202-225-5506, Aaron.White@mail.house.gov
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind met with United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to discuss NAFTA renegotiations and the text of a bilateral U.S. and Mexico agreement, which is expected to be released to the public later this week.
Rep. Kind’s statement is below:
“Today, I brought feedback from my Rural Economy Roundtables and the voices of Wisconsin’s farmers to a meeting with Ambassador Lighthizer, where I warned him of the adverse impact his policies are inflicting on Wisconsin communities. I urged him to find a soft landing zone before more damage is done and consumers start to see price hikes.
I also reiterated my call to the Ambassador to stop rushing this process, and focus on getting the best deal possible with both Canada and Mexico. We need a fair and transparent agreement with Canada on dairy export pricing now, and can’t leave Wisconsin’s dairy farmers behind.”
Ambassador Lighthizer is pushing to come to a NAFTA deal – with or without Canada – by this Sunday, in order to give U.S. lawmakers the required 60 days to review the text of a renegotiated NAFTA and ensure it is signed before Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto leaves office. Representative Kind and others have expressed concerns that omitting Canada from a final agreement violates the notification requirements required by Trade Promotion Authority.
