U.S. CONGRESS – U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte today celebrated President Trump signing a trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada, also known as the USMCA, into law. Daines and Gianforte were joined by Montana State Senator Mike Cuffe (SD-1, Eureka) for the signing ceremony.
To download the video, click HERE.
“Just finished watching President Trump sign the historic US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement at the White House,” Daines said. “Great to be here with Greg Gianforte and Mike Cuffe, and it’s a great day for Montana’s farmers and ranchers.”
“What an honor to be here at the White House watching President Trump sign the USMCA,” Gianforte said. “This is a great day for Montana ag.”
“I’m proud to be here with my friends who have travelled up and through the northwest corner where we have a lot of trade going on with Canada,” Cuffe said. “And thank you to Senator Daines and Congressman Gianforte and thank you Donald Trump for the good job again.”
USMCA’s Impact:
- Protect critical market access for Montana farmers, ranchers, and businesses
- Help level the playing field for Montana’s grain growers in Canada
- Modernize the agreement for digital trade
- Expected to create over 180,000 new American jobs
- Forecasted to boost our nation’s GDP by $70 Billion
- In 2018 alone, Montana had $731 million dollars in total exports to Canada and Mexico
This is the third time over the last 120 days Daines has joined President Trump at the White House for the signing of a trade deal benefiting Montana ag. President Trump signed the U.S.-Japan trade agreement on October 7th, 2019 and the Phase I U.S.-China trade agreement on January 15th, 2020.
Background:
Daines and Gianforte have been vocal proponents of the USCMA.
On January 16th, 2020, Daines voted for the USMCA out of the U.S. Senate.
On December 19th, 2019 Gianforte voted for the USMCA out of the U.S. House.
On December 9th , 2019, Gianforte and 158 other lawmakers pressed Pelosi to “stop dithering” and bring up USMCA for a vote in the U.S. House by the end of the year.
In November, Daines and Gianforte took to the floor of their respective chambers to urge immediate action on USMCA, citing the trade deal’s benefits to Montana.
In late October, Daines spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate urging Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats to act and advance the USMCA.
On September 24th, 2019, Gianforte spoke on the House floor urging Pelosi to work with the White House to get USMCA passed. He noted that it had been a full year since the U.S., Mexico, and Canada concluded negotiations and announced the agreement.
On June 18th , 2019, Daines raised the importance of advancing USMCA in a U.S. Senate Finance hearing with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.
On May 24th, 2019, Gianforte asked Pelosi to drop her opposition to USMCA and work with the White House to move the trade deal forward, noting the requirements set by both Democrats and Republicans had been met.
On November 21st, 2018, Daines sent a letter to President Trump showing support for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and to urge passage of the trade deal.
On November 20th, 2017, Daines sent a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross urging him to consider the critical role agriculture plays in the U.S, economy and its dependence on trade.
On June 28th, 2017, Daines sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Lighthizer, urging him to consider the impact of trade with Mexico and Canada on the U.S. agricultural industry while renegotiating NAFTA.
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