Washington, D.C., December 10, 2019 – The U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents America’s most successful global companies, issued the following statement on the announcement today of a bipartisan deal between the Trump administration and the House of Representatives leadership to move the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement, updating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), to expeditious enactment:
“USCIB welcomes today’s announcement of a bipartisan agreement to move the USMCA to approval by the U.S. Congress and quick entry-into-force. We are also encouraged that the Mexican and Canadian partner governments are prepared to support the necessary adjustments to bring the USMCA into effect. The agreement contains several provisions important to our members, recognizing the many changes in the North American and global economies since the original NAFTA was signed a quarter-century ago. Modernized provisions including those on digital trade and customs are key to allowing U.S. companies to continue to thrive in the North American market and to compete in today’s, and tomorrow’s global markets.
“While supportive of the new USMCA, we look forward to an on-going dialogue with the Administration and Congressional leaders on possible further refinements to some important provisions, including protections for innovation and intellectual property as well as effective protections for American investors, before USMCA might serve as an optimal model for future trade agreements.”
About USCIB:
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and regulatory coherence. Its members include U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world, generating $5 trillion in annual revenues and employing over 11 million people worldwide. As the U.S. affiliate of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Organization of Employers, and Business at OECD (known as BIAC), USCIB helps to provide business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More information is available at www.uscib.org.
Contact:
Kira Yevtukhova, USCIB
+1 202.617.3160, kyevtukhova@uscib.org
