Noem Urges Congress to Support Agriculture, Ratify USMCA
PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem today joined 26 other governors in urging the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate to ratify the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
“Nearly 25 years after the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is time to update our trade policies with two of our most critical trading partners,” the letter says. “The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a comprehensive, 21st Century trade agreement that protects workers across the nation, establishes a level playing field among the United States and our partners, and encourages free and fair trade.”
“South Dakota farmers and ranchers need added market opportunities and certainty,” said Noem. “The USMCA would increase potential for global trade while giving producers the stability to grow, invest, and create more jobs in South Dakota. I encourage Congressional leadership to support American agriculture and pass the USMCA.”
Read the full text of the letter below:
“Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer,
As governors, we support smart and strategic trade agreements that promote economic growth in our states and expand opportunities for our workers, farmers, and manufacturers. Nearly 25 years after the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is time to update our trade policies with two of our most critical trading partners. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a comprehensive, 21st Century trade agreement that protects workers across the nation, establishes a level playing field among the United States and our partners, and encourages free and fair trade.
Completion of the trade agreement is critical to our states as we seek to boost economic development and encourage new investment that leads to job creation. The USMCA modernizes our trade agreement with Canada and Mexico to account for stronger protections for trade secrets, intellectual property, anticorruption, and digital trade. The USMCA also expands access to markets for our farmers and ranchers and reduces barriers for agricultural markets. Beyond that, the USMCA strengthens prohibitions on the importation of goods produced by forced labor and ensures stronger protections for migrant workers.
As chief executives of our states, we urge Congress to pass USMCA quickly so American workers can begin reaping the benefits of improved trade with our North American neighbors. Passing the agreement quickly will give our small and large businesses the stability and predictability they need to expand, invest, and create more jobs.
We are committed to working with you as well as the President to ensure that the USMCA is ratified this Congress. We look forward to expanding the opportunities for our states to engage and prosper in international trade while continuing our longstanding partnerships with Canada and Mexico.”
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As the USMCA appears to be something that will be good for our nation and thus will be seen as a win for President Trump, I don’t know that the Democrats will support it. They are clearly more interested in Trump’s destruction than in helping the country and the citizens thereof. The Democrats lust for power and hate Trump and that is what drives them, not the good of the country.
This is exactly how republicans treated Obama. Exactly.
You make a strong case, but I’m optimistic good Americans will step forward & pressure Washington to get this deal signed. I’m not going to claim every single Republican officeholder is right every single time. But, when it comes to the USMCA, Governor Noem is 100% correct. Let’s expand opportunities for our states “to engage and prosper in international trade while continuing our longstanding partnerships with Canada and Mexico.” That’s the right approach. We can’t afford to let partisan bickering take food off working families’ tables.
#GreatestGovernorEver!