WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL) today voted in favor of the United States Mexico and Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). The U.S. House of Representatives passed the implementing legislation for the trade agreement by a vote of x to x. It now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
“USMCA is a win for Illinois and today is a victory for our farmers, manufacturers, and workers,” said Rep. LaHood. “Since the day this agreement was announced, I have been working to get it across the finish line and, after months of delay, I am proud to see it passed today. Forty percent of the products we grow in Illinois go to Mexico or Canada, and this trade pact will strengthen that vital relationship and provide needed certainty for our producers. I applaud President Donald Trump and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer for the work to modernize NAFTA into the 21st-century and look forward to seeing this passed in the Senate.”
“Farmers in this state know they can absolutely count on Representative LaHood to be a vocal leader on trade and valuable ally in the fight to open and expand market access for Illinois agricultural exports. Rep. LaHood recognizes that farmers in his district are perfectly situated to export. This modernized trade agreement maintains our tariff free access to two of our top three export markets and positions us to sell even more to our northern and southern neighbors. The Farm Bureau appreciates Rep. LaHood for his hard work to get USMCA across the finish line,” said Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert, Jr., a Randolph County grain farmer.
“Trade is critical to Illinois manufacturers and the 592,000 women and men working on factory floors across the state. No trade relationships are more important that Canada and Mexico that purchased 40 percent - $27 billion – of Illinois’ manufactured exports last year. Congressman Darin LaHood has been a champion for our state’s manufacturing sector and played an integral role in the USMCA success as a member of the House Ways & Means Committee. We applaud his strong support of Illinois manufacturing companies,” said Mark Denzler, President and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturing Association.
“The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is grateful to Rep. LaHood for his efforts to modernize and strengthen trade across North America and for his vote in favor of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement,” said Dennis Slater, president of AEM. “The agreement ensures continued duty-free access to our industry’s largest export markets, creates tens of thousands of news jobs, and adds $68 million to the U.S. economy. We applaud Rep. LaHood for his work to ensure the continued growth and prosperity of our industry, the local communities we serve, and the 119,000 hard working men and women of the equipment manufacturing industry in Illinois.”“The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is grateful to Rep. LaHood for his efforts to modernize and strengthen trade across North America and for his vote in favor of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement,” said Dennis Slater, president of AEM. “The agreement ensures continued duty-free access to our industry’s largest export markets, creates tens of thousands of news jobs, and adds $68 million to the U.S. economy. We applaud Rep. LaHood for his work to ensure the continued growth and prosperity of our industry, the local communities we serve, and the 119,000 hard working men and women of the equipment manufacturing industry in Illinois.”
As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. LaHood spoke on the House floor during full debate. You can view those remarks here.
USMCA is a win for America:
- USCMA will:
- Bring over $68 billion in new economic activity
- Add 176,000 new American jobs
- Add 76,000 new American automotive sector jobs
- For the first time, Canada’s markets will be opened for American dairy, wheat, chicken, eggs, and turkey producers to sell their products
- USMCA establishes the United States as a leader on digital trade and sets the standard for future trade agreements with a new digital trade chapter
- Passed over 24 years ago, it was time to modernize NAFTA into the 21st-century and expand market access for farmers and ranchers
Related:
Rep. LaHood Votes to Send USMCA to the House Floor for Full Consideration
Rep. LaHood Statement on USMCA Agreement
Rep. LaHood Statement on the USMCA Signing
Rep. LaHood Applauds Trilateral Agreement to Replace NAFT
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