As the 2020 U.S. election approaches, Joe Biden’s aides are frantically scrambling to determine the course of action surrounding the new trade pact that Democrats fear could ultimately help Donald Trump’s re-election chances.
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, referred to as the USMCA, was crafted last year by the Trump administration to replace the 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. At the time, Democrats expressed concerns that the deal was overly favorable to corporate interests and insufficiently protective of workers and the environment.
Now, with the election looming, Biden’s team is under increasing pressure to make a decision on the USMCA agreement. Biden has so far refused to take a clear stance on the pact, saying he would need to review the details if elected before making a decision.
However, some prominent Democrats are worried that, if the USMCA is approved before the election, it could be seen as a major legislative accomplishment for Trump and help him on the campaign trail. Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, one of the leading Democratic opponents of the deal, told The Associated Press, “This will only turn into a political bludgeon for Donald Trump” if there is a vote on the agreement before the election.
Adding to the urgency is the fact that failure to ratify the agreement could have negative implications for not just the U.S., but also Canada and Mexico, whose respective governments have pushed hard for USMCA approval. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly reaffirmed his commitment to the agreement and urged all parties to ratify the deal.
Biden has so far been sensitive to these concerns, affirming plans to renegotiate the agreement if necessary and focus on issues such as labor and environmental standards. However, without a clear path forward, Democrats are likely to find themselves in a difficult position as the election approaches.