White House to send USMCA agreement to Congress for approval after Sept 1; likely to be voted by the end of 2019

According to a CNBC report, the White House plans to send the draft of United States Mexico Canada (USMCA) agreement to Congress after September 1 and it is likely to be voted by the end of the year.  The White House could submit the bill to Congress as soon as this week to start the approval process. House Democrats are working towards correcting the issues with the existing agreement.

Trump’s acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff Marc Short are in favour of setting up a deadline for House Democrats to ratify the deal. However, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer suggests giving more time to consider it.

The White House and USTR agree the Trump administration could benefit from another month to sell the deal to members of Congress unsure about supporting it.

On May 30, Lighthizer sent a “Statement of Administrative Action” to legislative leaders. Lighthizer’s letter – despite indicating that he intended to work to make the deal agreeable to Democrats – was not received warmly.

“The Trump Administration’s decision … is not a positive step,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded. “It indicates a lack of knowledge on the part of the Administration on the policy and process to pass a trade agreement.”

If an official bill implementing the USMCA is sent to the congress, lawmakers would have 90 working days after receiving it to hold a vote. White House officials, including Mulvaney, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, National Economic Council director Larry Kudlow and White House economist Kevin Hassett, have dared Pelosi to put the bill on the floor suggesting it has enough bipartisan support.

“The White House and USTR are working in good faith and constructively with Members of Congress to address concerns some have voiced about the USMCA,” an administration official told CNBC. “We urge Congress to approve USMCA as soon as possible to unlock its benefits for America’s workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses.”

The White House will wait until after Congress is back from August recess to submit legislative language on the agreement.

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