Support by Wisconsin’s House delegation for a reworked NAFTA was almost — but not quite — unanimous. The U.S.-Mexico-Canada-Agreement passed the House Thursday on an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 385-41. Among those 41 nays, Democrats Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – and congressman Mark Pocan of Wisconsin.
Rep. Mark Pocan (WRN image)
In a statement, Pocan said “though this new deal is a definitive improvement from NAFTA, I cannot be confident that this trade deal would correct its core flaws that led to the outsourcing of hundreds of thousands of American jobs, as well as serious environmental concerns.”
Today, I voted against the USMCA.
Yes, it’s better than NAFTA, but I’m not confident it fixes core flaws that led to rampant outsourcing & it fails to take bold action on our global climate crisis.
Our trade deal must be a model for future deals—not just a marginal improvement.
— Rep. Mark Pocan (@repmarkpocan) December 19, 2019
In a tweet, Wisconsin Democrat Ron Kind said “This deal is a great example of what can be accomplished when people work across the aisle to get things done and should serve as the template for all future trade agreement negotiations.”
This deal is a great example of what can be accomplished when people work across the aisle to get things done and should serve as the template for all future trade agreement negotiations.
— Rep. Ron Kind (@RepRonKind) December 19, 2019
The USMCA now goes to the Senate for ratification.