Senator Cramer issues statement as USMCA set to enter into Force July 1

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement on U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer notifying Congress that Canada and Mexico have taken necessary measures to comply with their commitments under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), meaning it will enter into force on July 1, 2020:

“With our manufacturers and producers having to overcome the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I am pleased to see some positive news for these important industries. The USMCA agreement improves our trade policy with neighboring countries and creates a more level playing field for American businesses and workers as they travel down the road to recovery from this pandemic.”

According to USTR, following the notification of Congress, the United States became the third country to notify the other countries it had completed its domestic procedures to implement USMCA, which was the final step necessary for the agreement to enter into force.

Click here for more information from USTR.

Senator Cramer is a strong supporter of the USMCA, helping pass it through the Senate earlier this year. Once it goes into force on July 1, the USMCA will reduce trade distorting policies and improve transparency while ensuring non-discriminatory treatment for American agricultural product standards with two of North Dakota’s biggest trading partners.

Specifically, this deal will: 

• Ensure North Dakota grain is no longer graded as sub-par feed;
• Provide increased access to the Canadian market for poultry, eggs, and dairy;
• Mandate that vehicles, built with 75 percent North American content, are imported without tariffs; and
• Require any member of the agreement to give three months’ notice to the other countries if it starts negotiations with a non-market economy, which is what the United States considers China.