Van Hollen Statement on Support for USMCA

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding his vote in support of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA):

“I look at the terms of each proposed trade agreement and ask a basic question: will the agreement generate more good-paying jobs and improve the quality of life for Marylanders? The original agreement negotiated by the Administration failed that test but, as a result of changes demanded by many of us in the House and Senate, the final agreement achieves those goals. The final deal provides much-needed changes to NAFTA, including important and more enforceable labor standards and provisions that will lead to more American-made parts in manufacturing, both of which will boost good-paying jobs in Maryland and our country. I am disappointed that this agreement does not make much more progress on environmental protections and, in that area, it should not be a model for any future agreements. That said, it still represents a modest improvement compared to the status quo because it includes new provisions to protect wildlife and marine fisheries, reduce pollution along the U.S.-Mexico border, and tighten certain environmental enforcement mechanisms while not weakening any environmental protections currently in place. This is a case where we should not make the perfect the enemy of the good. The USMCA will ultimately strengthen Maryland businesses, farmers, workers, and consumers.”