Rep. Hill Cheers House Passage of USMCA

Washington, December 19, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman French Hill (AR-02) released the following statement after voting in support of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), replacing the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA):

“Today's passage of USMCA means more than 100,000 Arkansas farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers can celebrate this holiday season knowing that increased exports, more jobs, and rising wages are coming in 2020 and beyond. From day one, this renegotiation of NAFTA was focused on building growth in a 21st century economy and creating a level playing field for American workers. USMCA sets the stage for billions more in U.S. economic activity and strengthens our hand as we negotiate new trade deals with China, the United Kingdom, and other global partners. 

“I've been on the front lines of this hard-negotiated trade deal for the past three years because it has the greatest potential to directly improve the lives of central Arkansas families. USMCA was one of President Trump's top priorities for the American people, and I want to congratulate him, U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, and my House colleagues on this historic achievement.” 


Background:

Congressman Hill is a member of the USMCA Republican House Whip Team and has extensive international experience working on trade. In 1989, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Corporate Finance, where one of his key assignments was representing the United States as a negotiator in the historic bilateral talks with Japan known as the Structural Impediments Initiative (SII). While serving in President Bush’s White House as Executive Secretary of the President's Economic Policy Council (EPC), he chaired the weekly interagency Trade Policy Review Group.

In Arkansas, USMCA will:

  • Support the $2.1 billion in exports shipped from Arkansas to Canada and Mexico every year.
  • Open Canada’s market to sell dairy, wheat, chicken, eggs, and turkey from Arkansas farmers. 
  • Modernize intellectual property (IP) protections allowing Arkansas's growing technology industry to continue driving new innovation and job creation.
  • Ensure tariff-free trade for Arkansas manufacturers which could have faced up to $225 million in extra taxes without USMCA. 

This year, Congressman Hill has been a leading voice on championing America's trade priorities and advocating for passage of USMCA. This May, Congressman Hill joined MSNBC's Morning Joe to talk about the latest developments on USMCA trade talks. Click HERE or on the picture below to watch the full interview with Congressman Hill on Morning Joe.

In November, Congressman Hill joined KARK's Capitol View to discuss the positive impact that USMCA will have on Arkansas's 100,000 farmers and producers who will benefit from the new trade deal. Click HERE on the video below to watch his remarks. 

This past May, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette published an op-ed by Congressman Hill highlighting the importance of finalizing USMCA in order to open trade markets for Arkansas exports—including services, agricultural, manufacturing, and energy. That op-ed can be read HERE. 

"On balance, the USMCA is a successful renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. It is superior to the existing arrangement and is a far better proposal than the alternative of scrapping NAFTA and returning to World Trade Organization rules. This agreement is good for American workers, taxpayers, businesses, and consumers and will keep the United States and our North American markets competitive for decades to come."

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