Pelosi Says Biologics Provision a Problem in NAFTA Rewrite

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not directly answer a question on whether the new NAFTA would be ratified in her chamber, but suggested that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is highly respected and is seen as someone who cares about enforcement. She was speaking March 8 at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C. Pelosi noted that she voted for the original NAFTA, and believes trade in the region is "very important," though she also said that in some ways, NAFTA did not live up to expectations. She said that her members are worried about treatment of pharmaceuticals in the rewrite, as well as the environment, and labor rights in Mexico, but she said, "whatever is agreed to in those three areas, the most important element of a trade agreement is enforcement. If you don't have enforcement, you ain't got nothing, because it's just a conversation, a list of things."