Trump signs USMCA pact, passing baton to Canada
U.S. President Donald Trump signed the new North American trade pact into law Wednesday, leaving Canada’s Liberal party to shepherd the agreement through a final period of debate in the House of Commons to secure ratification.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who guided Canada through nearly two years of fractious talks to secure the trilateral pact, is expected to kick-start that process this week when she introduces legislation in the House.
Giving a nod to the “long, complex” negotiations, Trump highlighted the increased access to Canada’s dairy and poultry market included in the deal, as well as U.s. sought changes to the Canadian wheat grading system.
“You guys did a good job on us before this deal, I’ll tell you,” he said during an extended ceremony on the White House’s South Lawn. “Canada is very tough, but they’re good. They’re our friends so we appreciate it.”
The signing ceremony for the trilateral pact — dubbed the United-states-mexico-canada Agreement or “USMCA” by the White House — came after U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer negotiated last-minute amendments on pharmaceutical provisions, labour reform and the environment in order to win the support of Congressional Democrats.
As such, the new NAFTA represents a rare bipartisan achievement for the White House, though Trump, battling impeachment in the U.S. Senate and preparing for a re-election campaign, made no mention of the Democrats in his speech. Members of the party were also left off the invitation list for the ceremony, despite their role in clinching the deal.
With Canada now the last country yet to ratify the deal, all eyes will be on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s minority government to win the support of opposition lawmakers.
Financial Post
With files from wire services