Washington D.C. – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following statement after President Trump signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) into law. This trade agreement is projected to raise GDP by nearly $70 billion and create upwards of 200,000 American jobs.

“Over the past year, I have been working with both Democrats and Republicans to create a trade agreement that benefits our workers, businesses, consumers, and the economy as a whole. Today is an historic day because we have officially signed and officially ratified the United States- Mexico- Canada Agreement.”

“This is an historic victory for the 28^th District, for the state of Texas, and for our country as a whole. Trade with Mexico and Canada supports nearly million jobs in Texas.  Last year the state exported more than $137 billion worth of goods to Mexico and Canada, accounting for more than 40 percent of Texas exports. This historic trade agreement will position more Texans to compete—and win—in today’s economy.”

“Among the many key provisions included in the agreement, I secured the signature environmental safeguard of the USMCA, which provided $250 million for the North American Development Bank (NADB) as well as $300 million to fund Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants under the Border Water Infrastructure Program. These investments will enhance our ability to fund environmental infrastructure projects along the U.S.-Mexico border.”

“This historic trade agreement is a great deal for the American worker, the U.S. economy, and North America as a whole.”

“I would like to thank Speaker Pelosi, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, and their staff for their hard work on this trade agreement. I also want to thank Mexico’s Foreign Secretary Marcelo Luis Ebrard, Deputy Foreign Minister Jesus Seade, Ambassador Martha Bárcena, Senator Ricardo Monreal, and House Majority Leader Mario Delgado as well as Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland for working with us to create an agreement that will be beneficial for all three countries. Furthermore, I would like to thank many business groups that put in the hours of advocacy to make this deal possible, including the Texas Farm Bureau and the Business Coordination Council of Mexico.”

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