by
Laura Lai/ Comment
On the 25th of November
2019 I posted a comment type of entry on this Writing Blog with some ‘Reflections
on the USMCA Regional Free Trade Agreement’s Deadlock’ (to read the entire blog article click here).
In
short, I was arguing that regional free trade agreements date back to the 1920s
(a free trade agreement between Australia and New Zealand). Some other such
agreements followed on each continent: in South America (MERCOSUR) and North America
(NAFTA), in Europe (EU), in Asia (ASEAN) and in Africa (AFCFTA). They are all
alike and in the same time they are all different from the EU. They differ from
the latter in some regards, such as the degree of institutionalization and the
diminished national sovereignty because the EU passed from an
economical project to a political project of becoming some sort of a super
state, whatever its theoretical name.
The point I was making was that
the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which came into effect in
January 1994 is outdated and its shortcomings are evident particularly in areas
such as biotechnology and intellectual property protection. It is no surprise
since this agreement is more than a quarter of a century old. Therefore, it
required to be updated and improved with elements pertaining to the evolution
of the humankind in the last quarter of a century. For example, the updated
North America Free Trade Agreement (USMCA) will require that a car to be
manufactured on the North American continent to an extend of 75 percent and by workers
paid at least $16 an hour, in order for the car to be commercialized on the
North American market free of commercial duties.
Trump
Administration’s efforts to improve this deal and to work on a trade agreement
with China made perfectly sense for a presidential candidate, who won the
elections with the motto ‘Make America Great Again’ and almost half of America’s
trade depend on three countries: Canada, Mexico and China. But President Trump
held talks with the Japanese, too. And stroke a trade deal with them that is
beneficial for the American agricultural products.
Mexico
was the first country to have ratified the USMCA and Canada followed. But in
the United States despite arguments coming from states (ex. Indiana, Minnesota,
Colorado, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Alaska, etc.) and despite 12 million jobs
depending on the USMCA deal, the Democrats were putting more energy, time and
public funds in the impeachment procedure.
I
was arguing that it is the Democrats’ free choice to rank their political
priorities and that it is according to their political will to rank first the
impeachment and then the ratification of the USMCA. Just that according to public
opinions polls, Americans were less and less interested in impeachment and the
Americans regardless of their leftist or rightist political preferences gave a
mandate to both Democrats and Republicans to work first in their interest.
The Republicans hoped for a
ratification before the Thanksgiving one week recess time, but that was not
possible. And chances to have the USMCA ratified by Christmas were even less
probable. On December 2nd, 2019 – eight legislative days to go to
the Congress Christmas recess – the Washington Examiner hosted the opinion of
(Rep) Vicky Hartzler:
It is unfortunate that Speaker Nancy Pelosi has led us to
believe in the last weeks that the USMCA would be brought to the House for a
vote, adding that House Democrats were on a “path to yes” and that action on
the USMCA was “imminent.” […] This agreement will bring 176,000 new jobs to the
U.S. and will spur over $60 billion in new economic activity. Additionally, it
opens access to critical markets, such as the Canadian dairy market, for U.S.
producers. […] It is my hope
that Congress will work together with Trump to make sure this deal is passed. I
look forward to working expeditiously to secure this new deal for Missouri and
all of the country.
Speaker Pelosi, let’s get this done. No more excuses. (to read the
whole article, click here)
Furthermore, on the 11th of December 2019, Donald Trump’s trade advisor, Peter Navarro, had a TV intervention on Fox Business underlining the benefits of the USMCA particularly for the North American car industry’s struggle against the ‘unfair trade practices’ of the Asians and of the Europeans, framing all his point of view in the campaign motto of Donald Trump and his commitment to keep the promises made to the electorate (click here). But still no sign of the USMCA ratification.
Who said that miracles have no
place in politics was terribly wrong. And those who do not believe in miracles
at all may reconsider their position. Just before Christmas holidays, on
December 16th, the Washington Times was announcing the Americans
that the USMCA Christmas gift is ready to vote. But it was also warning that
following negations between the Democrats and the Republicans – as it is in a
democracy – may be the ‘occasional ugly sweater that you really didn’t want for
Christmas’ (to read the article, click here). On December 17th,
2019 – one day before the holidays – the Christmas political miracle happened!
The House of Representatives revisited the old NAFTA. The USMCA passed with a
bipartisan vote of 385 to 41 votes (to view the CBS News on this, click here).
Who would have believed
it? Not many! However, I still can name a few who would: Blake Hurst (farmer),
Sydnee Mason (Boots), Matt Moreland (Milkman), Barb Wilson (Bucket Lady), Drew
Lock (Macho Man) and the entire farmer crew that made the USMCA song parody to
YMCA (that you can listen here):
‘Trump
Man,
We
have crops on our land.
Trump
Man,
Trade
would give us a hand.
I
said
Nancy,
We
know you’re the woman’
who
can get this deal
through
Congress…’
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