Trade Talk Update
I'm Bob Larson. Trade negotiations that ag producers are following closely, are still ongoing. For growers here in Washington and around the Pacific Northwest, U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse is encouraged by the buzz in the nation's capital ...
NEWHOUSE ... "Continuous work is happening on the trade negotiations, particularly with China, and so I'm sure you're watching that as we are too."
As farmers await completion, some analysts believe a deal with China is coming down the home stretch.
The other deal that farmers and ranchers are counting on is the NAFTA replacement, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement ...
NEWHOUSE ... "The President pretty much put it in Speaker Pelosi's hands to have a vote when she seems appropriate. I hope it's soon. I think if it came to the floor that it would pass overwhelmingly."
Newhouse says it will also have to pass muster with both of our trading partners ...
NEWHOUSE ... "We do have a window because of some of the politics in both Mexico and Canada. I think this summer is an opportunity for us to get this done and I hope we can do it as soon as we can."
But, Newhouse says the USMCA has plenty of support ...
NEWHOUSE ... "There's been a lot of farm groups coming to Washington D.C. over the last several weeks advocating for passage of the USMCA and I'm hearing that there's a lot of support out there so I'm encouraging the Speaker to put in on the floor as soon as possible."
The administration is not likely to send up implementing legislation until they know Pelosi will schedule a vote.
