Progressive Caucus Dissatisfied With USMCA Working Group Makeup

Although the list of members on a working group to improve the new NAFTA isn't yet final, the co-chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus say they expect to be dissatisfied with the mix of views on it. "I know he did want to know who to negotiate with," said Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., referring to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. And Pocan said it makes sense that the task force would predominantly be drawn from the Ways and Means Committee, which is responsible for trade deals. But Pocan told International Trade Today, "We also want to make sure we're heard." Pocan said he thought Rep Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., could be on both task forces. "I do expect she would be on every committee if she wants to, because we all love Rosa, and this has been a passion she's had for a long time."

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said, "Our preference would be for the official task force to contain more CPC members, so we didn't have to have our own, necessarily. We haven't seen the final list, but we expect to have our own."

While the working group selected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will meet with Lighthizer to hash through sections on labor, environment, the treatment of biologic drugs and enforcement, the CPC task force will meet internally, and once it comes to a consensus, it will share that with the leadership. Pocan said he expects they'll also have a meeting with Lighthizer.

Jayapal -- who held a press conference along with Pocan June 12 on the caucus's priorities -- said none of them thought linking tariffs to immigration was appropriate. "None of us support that," she said. Pocan said Wisconsin farmers "are really hurting" as a result of the administration's lack of a coherent tariff policy.