Writing in the Abilene Reporter-News this week, Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) urged his colleagues in Congress to pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in order to deliver a major win for agriculture and energy producers in Texas and across America. “Trade with our neighbors to the north and the south supports almost a million Texas jobs, and our state’s economy stands to grow considerably thanks to the nearly $70 billion in real GDP and more than 170,000 jobs that USMCA is projected to deliver,” Arrington wrote. “Building on the success of NAFTA, under which U.S. agriculture exports more than quadrupled from $9 billion to $40 billion, the USMCA is projected to grow our agriculture exports by an additional $2.2 billion annually…” “…Just as the USMCA helps put Texas farmers in a better position to compete globally, it also strengthens the position of Texas energy producers in maintaining our global leadership as a net energy exporter..." “…But despite the clear and substantial benefits that the USMCA would offer to North American economy and its workers, congressional Democrats have refused to budge toward approving the new agreement, even as Mexico became the first nation to ratify the pact last week.” Last week, the House Committee on Ways and Means heard testimony from U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, on the consequences of further delaying passage of the landmark trade agreement: CLICK HERE OR ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO WATCH THE USMCA DISCUSSION IN HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS AND READ THE FULL COLUMN BELOW.  

Trade agreement passage critical for Texas ag, energy

Jodey Arrington Abilene Reporter-News June 27, 2019  

Recently, I raised a question to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer about the consequences to our economy if the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) fails to pass Congress.

“We’re going to have a catastrophe if this doesn’t pass,” Ambassador Lighthizer told me. “There are tens of millions of jobs at stake.”

And if what we’re facing is a catastrophe, Texas will most certainly be ground zero.

That’s because, since 1994, Texas has been at the epicenter of North American trade – not only because of our state’s geography but, more importantly, because of our bountiful resources, capacity for innovation and pioneering people.

In fact, trade with our neighbors to the north and the south supports almost a million Texas jobs, and our state’s economy stands to grow considerably thanks to the nearly $70 billion in real GDP and more than 170,000 jobs that USMCA is projected to deliver, according to the nonpartisan International Trade Commission.

In rural and urban communities alike, free and fair trade has served as the foundation for economic prosperity throughout the Lone Star State. From the food, fuel, and fiber production centers in my district in West Texas to the processing, packaging, and shipping facilities in the powerhouse port cities like Houston, Texas is the agriculture and energy capital of the world.

Now, for the first time in a quarter-century and after months of hard-fought negotiations by this administration, Congress has an opportunity to deliver a major win for agriculture and energy producers in Texas and across America by passing the USMCA.

Building on the success of NAFTA, under which U.S. agriculture exports more than quadrupled from $9 billion to $40 billion, the USMCA is projected to grow our agriculture exports by an additional $2.2 billion annually, according to the commission’s report.

Not only does the USMCA maintain duty-free access for American farmers in Mexico, it also significantly opens the Canadian market to American dairy, wheat and poultry products.

The new agreement also levels the playing field by bringing Mexico and Canada up to same high standards as the U.S. Furthermore, it enhances public health outcomes through food safety requirements, which will protect people and products from diseases and other contaminants.

Just as the USMCA helps put Texas farmers in a better position to compete globally, it also strengthens the position of Texas energy producers in maintaining our global leadership as a net energy exporter.

Thanks to the shale revolution, Texas alone is currently responsible for nearly a quarter of the nation’s natural gas production, allowing our Gulf Coast exporters to provide efficient and clean-burning fuel to our international partners.

At our current pace, U.S. natural gas production is set to overtake domestic consumption by 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

USMCA ensures that Texas natural gas producers will be able to sell excess natural gas to our North American partners, further advancing our nation’s energy independence, leadership in environmental stewardship, and ability to supply our allies around the world.

But despite the clear and substantial benefits that the USMCA would offer to North American economy and its workers, congressional Democrats have refused to budge toward approving the new agreement, even as Mexico became the first nation to ratify the pact last week.

To be clear: every day Democrats delay a vote on USMCA is a setback for America’s farmers, energy producers and workers in nearly every industry in our nation. It’s also a lost opportunity for this Administration to negotiate similar trade deals in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, where we are seriously lagging behind our competitors and ceding our share of the market.

To underscore this point, Ambassador Lighthizer said: “If we can’t pass this agreement, what does it say about [America’s] resolve to have a fair trading system?”

I could not agree more, and I sincerely urge my colleagues in the Texas Congressional Delegation to take note of what’s at stake in further delaying passage of USMCA.

President Donald Trump has done the right thing by renegotiating NAFTA to work better for America. Now it’s time for Democrats to do the right thing by putting politics aside, putting America first, and working with Republicans to pass the USMCA.

U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington represents the 19th Congressional District, which includes Taylor County and much of the Big Country.