Contact: Usamah Andrabi, 202-225-2906

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement following the House of Representatives vote on the implementing bill for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

“Today, I voted against the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Though this new deal is a definitive improvement from NAFTA, I cannot be confident that this trade deal would correct its core flaws that led to the outsourcing of hundreds of thousands of American jobs, as well as serious environmental concerns.

“This was not an easy vote. The original USMCA proposed by President Trump was an unacceptable handout to pharmaceutical companies as well as failing to protect workers or our planet. Democrats, unions, and progressive advocates stood up to the President, and made this new deal better—including improving labor standards, removing the big, sloppy kiss to Big Pharma and strengthening enforcement mechanisms.

“Unfortunately, I cannot be confident that this trade deal would heal the wounds inflicted by NAFTA including, rampant outsourcing of American jobs, the closing of factories and manufacturing facilities across the country, and decades of harm to working and middle-class communities. The deal also fails to take a once in a generation opportunity for North America to take bold, collective action to address the climate crisis that threatens the future of our entire planet.

“Assuredly, this trade deal will provide some certainty to Wisconsin farmers and dairy producers, struggling in our current economy. However, this is not a wholesale solution to the issues of dairy or other segments of agriculture in the Midwest. I call on the administration to cease their chaotic tactics and trade war by tweet that have put family farmers in harms way and contributed to the closing of over 1900 dairy farms since the start of Donald Trump’s presidency.

“Our goal should be a trade deal that is a model for future deals—not merely a marginal improvement to existing law, with questions about its ultimate effectiveness.”

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