Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer praised President Trump’s decision to lift tariffs against Mexico and Canada on aluminum and steel, but said there are “still many other issues” that must be resolved before the Democrats will back his proposed new trade deal, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
“I have always said that we should be focusing our efforts on China, not on Mexico, Canada or Europe,” Schumer said in a statement. “It is a good thing these tariffs will be lifted, and we should urge our allies to join us in preventing China’s predatory practices. There are still many other issues that are outstanding before Democrats would support the USMCA.”
Schumer has become a staunch defender of the president’s China tariffs, but long sought an end to the aluminum and steel tariffs.
Trump’s move to lift the tariffs will help facilitate congressional approval of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, but Democrats want changes first.
Democrats are seeking strict enforcement language for workers and the environment as well as protections against high drug prices written into the deal, the president’s proposal to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement.
