[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 15, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S205-S206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA TRADE AGREEMENT

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, later today, the President will sign phase 
one of the trade agreement we are negotiating with China. Of particular 
importance to my State, phase one includes a pledge from China to 
substantially increase its imports of American agriculture products.
  That is good news for South Dakota. It is good news for farmers and 
ranchers who have been struggling in a tough ag economy. Low commodity 
and livestock prices, natural disasters, and protracted trade disputes 
have made the last few years challenging ones for farmers and ranchers 
around the country.
  I spend a lot of time in South Dakota, talking to our farmers and 
ranchers. One thing they always emphasize is the need for trade deals 
that will open up new markets or expand current markets for their 
products.
  The China deal should significantly increase demand for American 
agricultural products and boost the farm economy. But while this 
agreement is excellent news, we do need to make sure that China will 
actually live up to its commitments. China doesn't have

[[Page S206]]

the best record in this regard, so it is important the United States 
make clear that any agreements must be honored.
  As we wait for the China deal to take effect, one piece of definite 
good news on the trade front is the arrival in the Senate of the United 
States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. After months of delay by House 
Democrats, USMCA is finally--finally--moving through Congress. Here in 
the Senate, it is advancing rapidly through the required committees, 
and I expect it will be received for final Senate consideration in the 
next few days.
  Last week, I voted in support of this agreement in the Senate Finance 
Committee, and just this morning--a few minutes ago, in fact--I voted 
for this agreement in a meeting of the Senate Committee on Commerce. 
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement has been a big priority of 
mine over the past year, in particular because of the ways the 
agreement would benefit farmers and ranchers.
  Canada and Mexico are the No. 1 and No. 2 markets for American 
agriculture products, and this agreement will preserve and expand 
farmers' access to these two critical export markets and give farmers 
certainty about what these markets are going to look like going 
forward.
  I am particularly pleased about the ways that USMCA will benefit 
dairy farmers. If you drive the I-29 corridor north of Brookings, SD, 
you can see firsthand the major dairy expansion South Dakota has 
experienced over the past several years.
  The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will preserve U.S. dairy farmers' 
role as a key dairy supplier to Mexico, and it will substantially 
expand market access to Canada. 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. It will make it easier for American 
producers to export wheat to Canada and much more.
  Of course, the benefits of this agreement are not limited to farmers 
and ranchers. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will benefit 
virtually every sector of the economy, from manufacturing to digital 
services to the automotive industry. It will create hundreds of 
thousands of new jobs, boost our economic output, and increase wages 
for workers.
  The agreement also breaks new ground by including a chapter 
specifically focused on small and medium-sized businesses--the first 
time a U.S. trade agreement has ever included a dedicated chapter on 
this topic.
  Roughly, 120,000 small and medium-sized businesses around our country 
export goods and services to Mexico and Canada, including a number of 
businesses in my home State of South Dakota. The United States-Mexico- 
Canada Agreement will make it easier for these businesses to 
successfully export their products. South Dakota businesses and 
consumers will also benefit from the fact that the agreement maintains 
the current U.S. de minimis threshold, which is something I fought hard 
to protect.
  It is too bad farmers and ranchers had to wait so long for the USMCA 
trade agreement. This agreement was concluded well over a year ago, and 
it could have been taken up much sooner. But House Democrats have, 
unfortunately, been more focused on playing political games than on 
working with Republicans to do the American people's business.
  I am very glad we are taking up this agreement now, though, and I 
look forward to voting for final passage of USMCA in the very near 
future. We should get this agreement to the President's desk without 
delay.
  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. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________