Head of Pro-Trade Democrats Cautions Administration Not to Withdraw From NAFTA
Withdrawing from NAFTA to secure approval of its replacement will backfire, warned the chairman of the New Democrats, a group of 68 House of Representatives members generally seen as pro-free trade, in a statement issued Dec. 10. One of the…
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New Democrats who serves on the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., is interested in leading that subcommittee next year (see 1811140049). New Dems Chairman Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., said withdrawal "will create economic chaos and not build the trust necessary for bipartisan progress." Himes said he met with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Dec. 7, and had a constructive conversation in which Himes said Lighthizer expressed his desire to work closely with members of Congress. "I agreed that such engagement would be essential to consideration of the revised NAFTA," Himes said. In his statement, he noted that his caucus was integral to getting fast-track legislation passed, as well as "every trade agreement in recent decades.... This administration will need bipartisan support to successfully push trade agreements through Congress and we urge the Administration to engage with us on this and other agreements moving forward."