[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5636-S5637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



              United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement

  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, in just a few days, we will mark the 1-
year anniversary of the President's concluding negotiations on the 
United States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement. It is time for 
Congress to ratify this agreement now.
  The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will benefit pretty much 
every sector of the U.S. economy: the automobile industry, textiles, 
digital trade and e-commerce, services, manufacturing, and yes, of 
course, agriculture.
  As the representative of a State whose lifeblood is agriculture, 
farmers and ranchers are always at the top of my mind, and a huge focus 
of mine right now is helping our struggling agricultural economy.
  Low commodity and livestock prices, natural disasters, and protracted 
trade disputes have made a tough few years for our Nation's farmers. 
One of the most important things we can do to help our agricultural 
economy recover is to open new markets for American agricultural 
products.
  During August, I spent a lot of time talking to farmers back home in 
my State of South Dakota. Again and again, they emphasized that they 
need action on trade from Washington. With so many trade deals 
currently up in the air, farmers and ranchers are struggling with a 
lack of certainty about what international markets are going to look 
like.
  While they share the President's goal of addressing trade imbalances 
and securing more favorable conditions for American products, they also 
believe that we need to conclude the agreements that we are negotiating 
as soon as possible. The longer negotiations drag on, the tougher their 
situation gets. That is why I have repeatedly stressed the need to 
bring these agreements to a swift conclusion, and I emphasize that 
point to the President nearly every time I talk to him.
  However, there is one deal we don't need to wait for, and that is the 
United States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement. As I said earlier, 
negotiations on this agreement concluded a year ago, and it is high 
time for Congress to take it up and pass it so that farmers and 
ranchers can start seeing the benefits.
  The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is a big win for farmers 
and ranchers. Of particular interest to South Dakota are the 
agreement's dairy provisions. Dairy is an important and rapidly growing 
industry in South Dakota. Drive the I-29 corridor north of Brookings, 
SD, and you can see firsthand the massive dairy expansion that we have 
experienced over the past several years.
  The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will preserve U.S. dairy 
farmers' role as a key dairy supplier to Mexico, and it will 
substantially expand market access in Canada, where

[[Page S5637]]

U.S. dairy sales have been restricted. The U.S. International Trade 
Commission estimates that the agreement will boost U.S. dairy exports 
by more than $277 million.
  The agreement will also expand market access for U.S. poultry and egg 
producers, and it will make it easier for U.S. producers to export 
wheat to Canada, and so much more.
  Above all, this agreement will provide farmers and ranchers with 
certainty about what the Canadian and Mexican markets are going to look 
like going forward. American farmers depend upon these markets to sell 
their products, and it is vital that farmers have a clear idea of what 
these markets are going to look like in the future.
  Republicans in the Senate are ready to take action on the United 
States-Mexico-Canada Agreement at any point. I hope House Democrats 
will quickly work out their remaining issues and indicate their 
willingness to vote on this deal. The administration has made 
addressing Democrats' concerns a priority throughout the negotiation 
process, and it is time for Democrats to bring this process to a swift 
conclusion.
  As I mentioned, we are almost a year now past the time when the 
President signed this agreement, and it has been available for 
consideration by the House of Representatives for that entire time. It 
is high time that we act on this trade deal and get it over here to the 
Senate, where we can vote on it and get it to the President for his 
signature.
  Last week, seven former U.S. Agriculture Secretaries, from both 
Democratic and Republican administrations, sent a letter to House and 
Senate leadership stating their strong support for the United States-
Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement.
  The Secretaries noted:

       With farmers facing one of the lowest net farm incomes in 
     the last decade, USMCA would create enhanced export 
     opportunities and help fully capitalize on increased global 
     demand for food products. Furthermore, USMCA would 
     significantly boost farm incomes and create jobs both on and 
     off the farm in rural communities.

  Again, that is from seven former U.S. Agriculture Secretaries, 
serving both Republican and Democrat Presidents.
  Life hasn't been easy for our Nation's farmers and ranchers over the 
past few years, and I can certainly attest to that, as I have looked at 
what the economy in South Dakota has been like in these last several 
years. The surest way that we can stabilize and boost farm income and 
help farm country is to conclude agreements like the USMCA. I urge my 
Democrat colleagues in the House of Representatives to make getting 
this deal done in the House, over to the Senate, and across the finish 
line their No. 1 priority.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.