Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ) criticized the Trump Administration's recent decision not to renew the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in a statement, saying it will weaken the United States.
The Context
On Wednesday, the White House announced that the USMCA (which President Donald Trump initially negotiated) would remain in place for another decade, with annual reviews that allow renegotiation of the treaty's major provisions.
The reason, according to a White House official who told CNBC, was that the USMCA focuses on the United States' trade deficit, and Trump also said, "We don't need anything that Canada has. We don't need anything that Mexico has, but they need everything that we have. And they have to treat us better."
Stanton's Response
Rep. Stanton criticized the decision in a statement, saying, "Mexico is Arizona's — and America's — number one trading partner, supporting tens of thousands of jobs here at home."
"This past year has only proven how much our manufacturers, businesses, and families depend on the USMCA working, and working well," Rep. Stanton continued. "Uncertainty from the President's sweeping trade war has already raised costs across the board and undermined confidence in our economy. Walking away from an extension today doesn't make America stronger."
The Arizona congressman said that the refusal to renew the USMCA as-is "invites years of annual reviews, continued tariff threats, and the kind of uncertainty that drives investment out of the United States instead of into it. And it undermines America's competitiveness on the global stage, handing a win to Beijing. It is essential that the United States use this opportunity to strengthen and improve — not retreat from — this agreement."
Hobbs Sounded the Alarm
In late January, Governor Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) similarly warned of consequences if USCMA was not renewed, saying, "The USMCA renewal process is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to a vision of North America that is competitive and resilient and supports the prosperity of Arizona businesses and families. The insights presented in this report will help ensure that this year's trade agreement reflects the needs of Arizona's workers and businesses."
