Trump signs a deal with Mexico and Canada, ends the “NAFTA nightmare” and ignores Democrats

President United StateDonald Trump signed a new trade agreement with the United States on Wednesday during an open-air party at the White House attended by about 400 guests, none of them senior Democrats who helped secure Congressional approval.

Trump, who is on trial in the US Senate for abusing power and obstructing the work of Congress, received Republican senators by name at the event in Jardim Seoul. The White House in Mexico and Canada said other guests included lawmakers from across the country, workers, farmers and executives as well as officials.

The United States, Mexico, and Canada Agreement (USMCA) will replace the North American Free Trade Agreement for 26 years. It has stricter rules in the corporate and auto sectors, but it leaves annual trade flows of $ 1.2 trillion between the United States, Mexico and Canada unchanged.

Trump told the audience, “Today, we finally ended the nightmare of NAFTA and signed a new agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada.” Trump, among a group of American workers wearing hard hats, said the agreement would boost America’s economic growth and benefit farmers, workers and producers.

The president said his concerns about outsourcing raised by NAFTA led to the start of the presidential race in 2016.

The agreement has been welcomed by a variety of business groups, which had yet to be ratified by the Canadian Parliament before it entered into force. Mexico has already agreed to the agreement.

Speaking in Ottawa, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his minority government will continue to answer questions from various industries and other groups.

“We have issues and we have an accreditation process. I look forward to moving forward with this responsibly and quickly, because it’s so important to Canadians.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Ways and Means Committee Chair Richard Neal, and other Democrats negotiated with the Trump administration for months to expand employment, and environmental provisions were left out of the event. . Executing the deal and paving the way for approval by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives.

Trump did not mention the work Pelosi or other Democrats had done on the trade deal, but US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer acknowledged the role House leaders had played in passing the deal.

The event occurred at a time when US senators would begin to question Trump’s impeachment and ahead of a major vote later this week over whether witnesses such as former National Security Adviser John Bolton will be allowed. .