The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-trudeau-and-enrique-pena-sign-mexico-canada-agreement-replace-nafta-180510">United States, Mexico and Canada</a> signed a deal Tuesday to finalize their new trade agreement, paving the way to ratification after more than two years of arduous negotiations.

However, the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in the US Senate would likely delay Congressional ratification of the agreement until next year, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

In reality, it is the second time the three countries have triumphantly announced the conclusion of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the deal meant to replace the 25-year-old NAFTA, which President Donald Trump complains has been "a disaster" for the US.

First signed in November 2018, USMCA got bogged down in political complications, particularly in the United States, where opposition Democrats questioned whether it would really force Mexico to deliver on labour reforms meant to level the playing field between Mexican and American workers.

But another year of talks produced a series of additions — notably including tougher enforcement of labour provisions — that won the blessing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the key Democrat needed to move the agreement forward, as well as the largest US labour federation, the AFL-CIO.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who presided over the signing ceremony, said the deal "will benefit both Mexican and American workers." He hailed it as a "driver of growth" for all three countries' economies.

"Some people thought it was impossible to reach this deal. Some people thought we wouldn't be able to agree on anything (with Trump). But look what we've done," said the leftist leader.

From 'worst' to 'best'

The final deal, which must now be ratified in all three countries' legislatures, will replace the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, the historic pact that erased nearly all tariffs across the region, deeply integrated its economies and helped turn Mexico into an export powerhouse.

Under NAFTA, the region -- which represents close to 30 per cent of the global economy and is home to nearly 500 million people -- did $1.2 trillion in trade last year.

But Trump bashed NAFTA as "the worst trade deal in the history of the country," blaming it for shipping American jobs south of the border.

He insisted on overhauling it -- a long, fraught process that kicked off in August 2017, and which produced what Trump swaggeringly tweeted "will be the best and most important trade deal ever made by the USA."

Analysts say USMCA is similar to NAFTA in many respects, but there is improved access for US agricultural goods, including dairy products, which Canada, in particular, had tried to limit.

It includes rules designed to improve US auto workers' competitiveness, requiring 40 per cent of each duty-free car to be made by people earning at least $16 an hour.

Besides labour enforcement rules, the additions signed Tuesday include tougher measures to monitor environmental provisions and remove the requirement for the countries to provide at least 10 years of exclusivity for biologic drugs, which blocks cheaper generic versions.

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer signed the annexe to the deal in Mexico City along with Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Mexico's top negotiator on the accord, Jesus Seade.

Senior Trump advisor Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, also attended.

"It's nothing short of a miracle that we have all come together," Lighthizer said.

"We have accomplished this together at a moment when around the world it is increasingly difficult to get trade deals done," said Freeland.

Down to the wire

The path to ratification now looks clear in all three countries.

Pelosi — acutely aware of the need to win back blue-collar voters the Democrats lost to Trump in 2016 — sought to claim victory over the president by calling the final deal "infinitely better than what was initially proposed by the administration."

USMCA's fate had looked precarious in recent weeks.

Lopez Obrador firmly rejected the initial US proposal for labour inspections, and the deal seemed likely to get mixed up in Trump's impeachment drama and 2020 re-election bid.

Mexico emphasized that there would be no American "inspectors" visiting Mexican factories or businesses, but rather panels of "independent labour experts" which Mexico would help to choose.

The United States, Mexico and Canada signed a deal Tuesday to finalize their new trade agreement, paving the way to ratification after more than two years of arduous negotiations.

The United States, Mexico and Canada signed a deal Tuesday to finalize their new trade agreement, paving the way to ratification after more than two years of arduous negotiations. However, the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in the US Senate would likely delay Congressional ratification of the agreement until next year, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. In reality, it is the second time the three countries have triumphantly announced the conclusion of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the deal meant to replace the 25-year-old NAFTA, which President Donald Trump complains has been "a disaster" for the US. First signed in November 2018, USMCA got bogged down in political complications, particularly in the United States, where opposition Democrats questioned whether it would really force Mexico to deliver on labour reforms meant to level the playing field between Mexican and American workers. But another year of talks produced a series of additions — notably including tougher enforcement of labour provisions — that won the blessing of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the key Democrat needed to move the agreement forward, as well as the largest US labour federation, the AFL-CIO. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who presided over the signing ceremony, said the deal "will benefit both Mexican and American workers." He hailed it as a "driver of growth" for all three countries' economies. "Some people thought it was impossible to reach this deal. Some people thought we wouldn't be able to agree on anything (with Trump). But look what we've done," said the leftist leader. From 'worst' to 'best' The final deal, which must now be ratified in all three countries' legislatures, will replace the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, the historic pact that erased nearly all tariffs across the region, deeply integrated its economies and helped turn Mexico into an export powerhouse. Under NAFTA, the region -- which represents close to 30 per cent of the global economy and is home to nearly 500 million people -- did $1.2 trillion in trade last year. But Trump bashed NAFTA as "the worst trade deal in the history of the country," blaming it for shipping American jobs south of the border. He insisted on overhauling it -- a long, fraught process that kicked off in August 2017, and which produced what Trump swaggeringly tweeted "will be the best and most important trade deal ever made by the USA." Analysts say USMCA is similar to NAFTA in many respects, but there is improved access for US agricultural goods, including dairy products, which Canada, in particular, had tried to limit. It includes rules designed to improve US auto workers' competitiveness, requiring 40 per cent of each duty-free car to be made by people earning at least $16 an hour. Besides labour enforcement rules, the additions signed Tuesday include tougher measures to monitor environmental provisions and remove the requirement for the countries to provide at least 10 years of exclusivity for biologic drugs, which blocks cheaper generic versions. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer signed the annexe to the deal in Mexico City along with Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and Mexico's top negotiator on the accord, Jesus Seade. Senior Trump advisor Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, also attended. "It's nothing short of a miracle that we have all come together," Lighthizer said. "We have accomplished this together at a moment when around the world it is increasingly difficult to get trade deals done," said Freeland. Down to the wire The path to ratification now looks clear in all three countries. Pelosi — acutely aware of the need to win back blue-collar voters the Democrats lost to Trump in 2016 — sought to claim victory over the president by calling the final deal "infinitely better than what was initially proposed by the administration." USMCA's fate had looked precarious in recent weeks. Lopez Obrador firmly rejected the initial US proposal for labour inspections, and the deal seemed likely to get mixed up in Trump's impeachment drama and 2020 re-election bid. Mexico emphasized that there would be no American "inspectors" visiting Mexican factories or businesses, but rather panels of "independent labour experts" which Mexico would help to choose.

United States, Mexico, Canada sign deal finalizing USMCA trade pact

Facing a barrage of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/donald-trump-asks-general-motors-to-stop-manufacturing-cars-in-china-179687">attacks from President Donald Trump over plant closures</a>, General Motors announced Friday a $1.8 billion investment and the creation of 700 new jobs in the United States.

About $300 million will be geared towards production of electric vehicles at the auto giant's Orion plant in Michigan, creating 400 jobs, the company said in a statement.

Those vehicles had been slated for production outside of the United States.

In November, GM shuttered five US plants, including auto assembly plants in Michigan and Ohio as part of a 15 per cent cut in its workforce worldwide -- cutting around 14,000 employees -- which drew Trump's Twitter wrath.

This week he urged the company to reopen the Lordstown, Ohio auto plant or sell it to someone who would.

"We are excited to bring these jobs and this investment to the US,” GM chief Mary Barra said in announcing the plans to employees in Orion.

"This new Chevrolet electric vehicle is another positive step toward our commitment to an all-electric future. GM will continue to invest in our US operations where we see opportunities for growth."

The new investment will help the company comply with new rules agreed to under the revised North American free trade deal, the statement said.

Among other changes, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, requires that manufacturers produce a share of their vehicles in higher-wage factories in order to gain duty-free access to the region -- a requirement aimed at favouring US and Canadian facilities over those in Mexico.

The treaty has yet to be ratified, however.

The Orion plant already builds the Chevy Bolt EV, and the new model "will be based off an advanced version of the same vehicle architecture," the statement said.

However, this is separate from the previously announced plan to produce a Cadillac EV.

In addition to the investment, GM said it is in the process of adding 1,000 jobs to its truck assembly plant in Flint, Michigan.&nbsp;

And the company said it has 2,700 openings at five sites around the country available to the 2,800 hourly workers impacted by the recent plant closures.

Facing a barrage of attacks from President Donald Trump over plant closures, General Motors announced Friday a $1.8 billion investment and the creation of 700 new jobs in the United States.

Facing a barrage of attacks from President Donald Trump over plant closures, General Motors announced Friday a $1.8 billion investment and the creation of 700 new jobs in the United States. About $300 million will be geared towards production of electric vehicles at the auto giant's Orion plant in Michigan, creating 400 jobs, the company said in a statement. Those vehicles had been slated for production outside of the United States. In November, GM shuttered five US plants, including auto assembly plants in Michigan and Ohio as part of a 15 per cent cut in its workforce worldwide -- cutting around 14,000 employees -- which drew Trump's Twitter wrath. This week he urged the company to reopen the Lordstown, Ohio auto plant or sell it to someone who would. "We are excited to bring these jobs and this investment to the US,” GM chief Mary Barra said in announcing the plans to employees in Orion. "This new Chevrolet electric vehicle is another positive step toward our commitment to an all-electric future. GM will continue to invest in our US operations where we see opportunities for growth." The new investment will help the company comply with new rules agreed to under the revised North American free trade deal, the statement said. Among other changes, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, requires that manufacturers produce a share of their vehicles in higher-wage factories in order to gain duty-free access to the region -- a requirement aimed at favouring US and Canadian facilities over those in Mexico. The treaty has yet to be ratified, however. The Orion plant already builds the Chevy Bolt EV, and the new model "will be based off an advanced version of the same vehicle architecture," the statement said. However, this is separate from the previously announced plan to produce a Cadillac EV. In addition to the investment, GM said it is in the process of adding 1,000 jobs to its truck assembly plant in Flint, Michigan. And the company said it has 2,700 openings at five sites around the country available to the 2,800 hourly workers impacted by the recent plant closures.

After Trump barbs, General Motors announces $1.8 billion investment, new jobs

united-states-mexico-canada-agreement

United States Mexico Canada Agreement, News on United States Mexico Canada Agreement, stories on United States Mexico Canada Agreement, articles on United States Mexico Canada Agreement, United States Mexico Canada Agreement stories at Wion, United States Mexico Canada Agreement news, United States Mexico Canada Agreement latest news

united states-mexico-canada-agreement

United States, Mexico, Canada sign deal finalizing USMCA trade pact

After Trump barbs, General Motors announces $1.8 billion investment, new jobs