USMCA at One

"If anything, the pandemic has reinforced the deeply interconnected nature of our economies and societies. It has shown us the risk of over reliance on supply chains, whose crucial links may run through far off lands. It is essential that we—government, private sector and civil society—learn from the pandemic, that we implement plans and policies that will help mitigate the impact of future disruptions, and that we recognize the value and potential for nearshoring, crucial sectors and important supply chains." 

"We have to as partners continue to address massive unfair subsidies dumping, IP theft, forced technology transfers, unscientific barriers to ag products,  protectionist restrictions on data transfer, and then localization measures of all sorts. These are all the challenges, globally. I'm convinced that UMCA shows us a better way, with market principles, high standards, innovation and fair competition, and strong labor standards. I think USMCA challenges the world, to embrace the future rather than a protectionist, isolationist past."

"I take your point about the trade politics being difficult. They have been difficult, but look at  USMCA as a high-standard agreement.  I think 89% of House members voted for this agreement and it was 89 senators, which out of 100, gives you 89% there as well. That's really, I think, a transformation of some of our trade politics, and is the reason why I think USMCA really is transformational. Just as NAFTA started a trajectory of trade agreements for a generation, I think that USMCA is the beginning of a trajectory for a new generation of trade agreements."

"The USMCA now includes the strongest labor and environmental standards in any agreement ever, a new labor-specific enforcement mechanism, and critical changes to intellectual property provisions designed to increase access to affordable medicine for regular people."

"We’ve have worked hand in hand with the private sector and workers, women and men, that will be ready to carry out the implementation and to receive the benefits of reform. Also, we have carried out reforms to improve minimum wages, and to improve the scheme of profit distribution, and the free trade agreement has been very significant."

"By modernizing North American rules of trade and simplifying trade processes, our businesses are better able to meet the most pressing challenges of our time‑ from the pandemic to climate change. Our renewed commitment to the automobile industry in CUSMA is an excellent example of this. By working together under this new agreement, we're incentivizing North American production of zero-emission vehicles and turning our countries into global leaders in the clean energy vehicle market. This is about strengthening our long-term competitiveness, generating sustainable growth and creating good jobs across our countries."