Rep. Doggett Urges Trump Administration to Fix Gaps in USMCA

Washington, D.C.-As Americans struggle with an unstable economy due to President Trump's chaotic policies and large corporations exploit lax rules in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to outsource good-paying jobs abroad, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) led more than 100 of his Democratic House colleagues in urging U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer to strengthen the agreement to support job creation and economic growth, clean manufacturing, and a livable climate. Specifically, the members call for the original USMCA to be renegotiated to achieve strengthened environmental enforcement standards to ensure clean air and water while creating a level playing field.

The members write, "As the U.S., Mexican, and Canadian governments undertake the mandatory six-year review of the renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), we urge you to significantly strengthen Chapter 24, Environment. Without an enforceable, meaningful environmental chapter, clean air, water, and land and safe, good-paying jobs are all at risk in a race to the bottom. No Party should gain a comparative advantage over others by undermining, repealing, and sabotaging their environmental protections. Strong and enforceable environmental protections ensure that American workers and businesses can compete on a level playing field and are not unfairly penalized for following U.S. laws that guarantee safe workplaces free from environmental hazards and that support healthy, sustainable communities."

"Trump has said he supported 'full enforceable' environmental provisions. To achieve that objective, reforms must be adopted. The USMCA made modest progress, but the lack of meaningful enforcement undermines existing protections," the members continued.

Endorsing organizations are the Center for Biological Diversity, Endangered Species Coalition, League of Conservation Voters, Public Citizen, and Sierra Club.

The full letter can be read here.

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