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Commentary: Trade pact with Mexico, Canada will benefit Texas

June 21, 2019
Columns

Rep. Roger Williams
Lampasas Dispatch Record
Commentary: Trade pact with Mexico, Canada will benefit Texas

Texas has long been a leader of our nation's economy, and there is almost no industry here that won't be impacted for the better by the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade deal.

President Donald Trump negotiated a winning deal, which has been presented to Congress and awaits consideration. I urge congressional leadership to stop stalling and ratify the USMCA trade deal this summer, so we can all begin to feel the benefits.

We must stop the partisan fighting and political games, and accept this victory for America. If passed, USMCA will add even more fuel to our booming economy, put more money back into the pockets of consumers and allow Main Street businesses a greater opportunity to thrive. All sides should be able to agree that implementing this trade agreement will be a major economic win for folks right here in Texas and the entire country.

President Trump has worked diligently alongside his counterparts in Canada and Mexico over the past year to create a new agreement that pushes America forward and accounts for the drastic changes in our economy. Both Canada and Mexico are already taking steps to ratify the agreement, with Mexico expected to ratify as soon as this week. We must do the same and progress toward finalizing this agreement that the administration has put forth.

I applaud the president and his entire administration for their unrelenting focus on the American worker, businessperson and farmer. They continue to negotiate deals and create opportunities that not only benefit America as a whole but specifically help us right here in Texas.

Fair trade with our neighbors to the north and south of the United States is imperative. There's no better example of that than Texas, where in 2017 our businesses exported $120.6 billion of goods and services to Canada and Mexico, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

The ability to freely and fairly do business in North America is the benchmark of this administration's economic principles. From manufacturing to agriculture to the high-tech sector -- all aspects of our daily lives will grow and improve under USMCA.

Our farmers and ranchers throughout Texas are just one example of who will benefit from this new trade agreement. Specifically, dairy farmers right here in my district will no longer be burdened by Canada's unfair tariffs, which limit American farmers' ability to sell their products abroad. Business opportunities will expand throughout the agricultural industry once the errors of NAFTA are corrected.

This new trade pact presents our country with many opportunities that should excite us all. There is very little we can seem to agree on in this highly polarized climate, but a deal that allows us to trade freely and boosts our already growing economy should be something we can all support.

We must finalize this deal now, so Texans can feel the benefits sooner versus later. I am ready to vote for USMCA, as are many of my colleagues. Let's clear the gridlock in Washington and get this done for all Americans.

U.S. CONGRESSMAN ROGER WILLIAMS (R-AUSTIN) represents Texas' District 25, which includes Lampasas County.

Issues:Economy