Administration Will Not Send USMCA Implementing Bill Up Until Pelosi Gives Assent

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said that although under fast track authority the administration could send the implementing bill for the NAFTA rewrite on July 9, the administration will not be doing that. "There's respect for this legislative process and the importance of Pelosi involved this process... the White House is not going to do anything without consulting with her," he said. He referred to White House Chief Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow's comments earlier that morning about the administration's plans.

“I think Speaker Pelosi has been very accommodative on this,” Kudlow said at CNBC Capital Exchange July 9. “She’s been terrific.” Grassley told International Trade Today that Kudlow said the administration is "not going to send it up without her giving the green light."

Grassley acknowledged that he won't get his preference of a vote before the August recess, but said, "this is perfectly doable in the fall, if it's early fall.... If the House sends us a bill, we can quickly pass it."

He also talked about Japan trade talks during the conference call with reporters, saying that staff-level negotiations are ongoing, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has met sporadically with his Japanese counterparts.