Lawmakers Weigh In On USMCA Timing

Control of Congress could be the key when Congress votes on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), according to two Republican lawmakers."If the Democrats take the House, the vote will be in the lame duck," said Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), referring to the roughly two-month period between the election and a new Congress starting in January. "If the Republicans keep the House, it will be next year." Grassley says that given the Senate calendar and the need to finish appropriations, it would be better to vote next year.Grassley, current chair of the Judiciary Committee, may become Senate Finance chairman next year following the retirement of current chair Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). Grassley's new post assumes Republicans keep control of the chamber. He expects the trade deal to pass.Grassley also said China needs to take note. "Common sense tells me" Congress has the simple majority votes needed to pass the new USMCA, Grassley said. The trade deal is "very positive" for the U.S. agriculture industry, he added. "Beijing should take note," he alerted; the pact shows President Trump can "rebalance" trade deals, Grassley said."You know 95 percent of what we will be voting on is the same as NAFTA," Grassley stated.