GOP House Ag leaders call for USMCA approval

   Republican leaders on the House Agriculture Committee called for Congress to pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on Tuesday after hearing testimony from representatives of the U.S. dairy industry.
   “Members walked away with a clear message from today’s subcommittee hearing — USMCA can’t be approved soon enough,” House Agriculture Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee ranking member David Rouzer, R-N.C., said in a statement. “With additional access for U.S. dairy products and the elimination of Canadian Class 6 and 7 dairy pricing strategies, we’ve heard time and again that the U.S. dairy industry stands to benefit from the renegotiated trade deal.”
   House lawmakers continue highlighting the economic significance of USMCA, but it remains to be seen whether Democrats will heed the agriculture industry’s calls for passage, House Agriculture Committee ranking member Mike Conaway, R-Texas, said in a statement.
   “The dairy industry couldn’t be more clear: Pass USMCA. We know producers are struggling and the main hope for recovery lies with trade,” Conaway said. “After the recent release of the long-awaited International Trade Commission report, Speaker Pelosi should make preparations to bring USMCA to a vote in the House as soon as possible. Our farmers can’t afford to wait.”
   Released earlier this month, the ITC’s report on the likely economic impacts of USMCA estimates that the pact would raise U.S. real GDP by $68.2 billion, or .35 percent, and U.S. employment by 176,000 jobs, if fully implemented and enforced.
   The release of the ITC report clears the way for Congress to consider USMCA implementation legislation.