Grassley: Trump Tariffs Must Go Before USMCA Vote in Congress

As agriculture lobbies Congress to introduce and pass USMCA, there could be a battle brewing over the ending of U.S. trade tariffs.  Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said there is no way Congress will consider the updated NAFTA deal until President Trump lifts the tariffs that have caused other countries to implement retaliatory tariffs that have hit U.S. farmers hard.  Grassley told reporters this week that Trump has to end the steel and aluminum tariffs in place against Canada and Mexico.

Farmers across the country have been suffering economically because of the reciprocal tariffs in place on all kinds of agricultural products.  Grassley said tariffs could also make it more difficult to get a trade deal done with China.  Grassley was expecting to meet Thursday face-to-face with Trump at the White House to talk trade.  The long-time Senator says tariffs are “keeping the president on the cusp of a big win” with Canada and Mexico, especially as he’s days or weeks away from potentially establishing a trade agreement with China.

An Associated Press report said the President is hesitant to remove the tariffs because he feels they’ve forced other countries to make deals more favorable to the U.S.

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