Key Senate Committee Passes USMCA

Yesterday, I gave the following remarks in advance of the Senate Finance Committee’s passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act. Excerpts of my interview are below, and video can be found here.

As a Texan, I’ve long understood and appreciated the close economic relationship with our neighbors to the north and the south.

In 2018, Texas exported more than $137 billion in goods and services to Canada and Mexico. This trade supports an estimated 950,000 jobs in Texas and has helped make our state's economy the tenth largest in the world.

It brings NAFTA into the 21^st century. It will provide economic certainty, reduced tariffs, and greater opportunity for all sectors, including our farmers, ranchers and producers; manufacturers; and goods and services. It'll provide needed infrastructure along the border, as well.

I worked closely with Ambassador Lighthizer and the Administration to secure funding for the North American Development Bank, which I’m glad was included in the agreement. This will provide $215 million to strengthen infrastructure and improve quality of life in our border communities, as well as those of our neighbors.