News

Grassley: USMCA is ‘dead’, unless tariffs are lifted

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the chances of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement being approved by Congress are “dead”, unless President Trump lifts the steel and aluminum tariffs on Mexico and Canada.

Grassley, in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, says there is “no appetite” in Congress to debate the USMCA with the tariffs in place.

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue, during a stop in Pella, Iowa Monday, was asked about Grassley’s comments. Perdue said he continues to lobby the White House to change course on those tariffs.

“I understand Senator Grassley can say things sometimes more forcefully than I can afford to say things,” Perdue said. “But hopefully that will be part of the system where the President can be persuaded that the tariffs have had their effect and that we can move to a quota system.”

But Perdue also indicated that Congress may have to ratify the USMCA agreement before Trump will consider lifting the tariffs.