[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S2249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 USMCA

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I have come to the floor many times 
recently to explain how important the United States-Mexico-Canada 
Agreement is to the economies of the three countries--particularly the 
United States and particularly agriculture in the United States--and 
that we need to soon make a decision to continue the USMCA. It is up 
for review, and that review ought to be conducted very quickly because 
of the economic importance that I have kind of tried to demonstrate on 
the floor of the U.S. Senate--how it has expanded trade between our 
countries and business between our countries and how it has been so 
beneficial to the economic growth of all three countries but 
particularly the United States. So I have said the renewal is really a 
no-brainer.
  So I continue my review today of this USMCA, but there is one part of 
that agreement that does not show up in the text of the agreement or is 
easily calculated in dollars, as I have tried to explain the value of 
the USMCA in dollar terms. In other words, it is hard to give any 
statistics to this aspect of the USMCA and its value.
  It is the invaluable effect of countering China on the global stage 
because of what has developed as a result of the USMCA. That is through 
alignment on agricultural, environmental, intellectual property rules 
and regulations, and by aligning rules of origin, strengthening 
nearshore supply chains, and countless other provisions. The USMCA 
protects our domestic workers, our companies, and our products from 
being replaced by Chinese competition.
  The alignment of the North American economy, because of the USMCA, to 
U.S. standards--that all sends a very strong signal to the rest of the 
world. That signal is this: If you align with the United States, you 
and your economy will prosper.
  As more and more countries are finding out, aligning in the opposite 
direction--with China--means intellectual property theft, continuously 
moving goalposts, and regulatory uncertainty. Because of the USMCA and 
the North American economy being aligned--because of the USMCA--I think 
it shows the importance of counteracting China.
  So I urge the Trump administration to quickly advance trilateral 
conversations on renewing USMCA, and I say this especially with Canada 
because I see we are dragging our feet in regard to sitting down with 
Canada. We should not be pushing Canada to the back burner in the USMCA 
negotiations. The United States and Canada economically are so 
integrated that it is important to keep this moving.
  The Canadians showed their willingness to expand trade with China, to 
our detriment. They did this in January--including in electric 
vehicles. This administration must move quickly to ensure Canada 
remains focused on strengthening trade between our two countries, and 
we do that by sitting down with Canada very quickly.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. President, 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. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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