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Senators complete USMCA signing

(Posted on 27/01/20)

In his role as the president pro tempore of the US Senate, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in a ceremony on 22 January, officially sending the trade legislation to President Donald Trump for his signature. There are reports the president plans to sign the accord at a Jan. 29 White House ceremony.

Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Pat Roberts, R-Kan.; Rob Portman, R-Ohio; Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; John Hoeven, R-N.D.; Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; and Martha McSally, R-Ariz., joined Grassley as he signed the legislation.

“After three years, we’ve seen some success from the president’s trade policy and USMCA is the best example of this right now,” Grassley said.

USMCA passed overwhelmingly in the Senate last week by a bipartisan vote of 89-10, following the House’s 385-41 bipartisan vote in December.

Canada remains the only partner in the trade deal not to have formally approved USMCA. Its government will unveil legislation to ratify the trade deal on Jan. 29, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is urging legislators to quickly approve the trade pact. Canada’s parliament, which returns from winter break today, 27 January, could consider USMCA as early as February, but some observers suggest the process could be delayed until April since Trudeau’s Liberal party lost its majority in the October election and, therefore, must work more closely with opposing legislators.