Vice President Mike Pence visits York County, talks trade deal

Vice President Mike Pence toured a York County manufacturing plant Thursday, rallying a crowd of industry workers and urging executives to tell Congress it should pass the president’s new trade agreement.

The Trump administration’s United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, addresses a campaign promise to renegotiate unfair trade deals and replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement.

Pence visited JLS Automation, in Springettsbury Township, talking to local manufacturers, at a time when President Donald Trump is at odds with Senate Republicans, threatening to impose a 5 percent tax on imports from Mexico.

“We need to forge trade deals that will put America first,” Pence said. 

Craig Souser, CEO at JLS, supports the trade deal, noting that the company has had plenty of struggles and challenges over the years working to survive. The company develops robotic packaging solutions.Sales out of the Canadian trade market are key to the company’s success, he said. 

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“However, to maintain our success we need a dynamic trade policy to adapt to the changes in the market,” Souser said. “Pass USMCA. It’s time for congress and senate to do their part so we can focus on what we do best, make world class machines.”

Congress has yet to ratify USMCA, as it has drawn concerns from Democrats on Capitol Hill who argue the pact is too similar to NAFTA and lacks the necessary enforcement provisions. Lawmakers in three countries still have to approve the president’s alternative.

“The time has come for Congress to pass the largest trade deal in American history,” Pence said. “The time has come for congress to pass the USMCA.”

Pence said USMCA would be the largest trade deal in American history. Its passage, coupled with other Trump administration economic and trade policies, would keep the U.S. economy growing, he said.

“American manufacturing has come roaring back,” Pence said to a crowd of workers at JLS. “We need Congress to pass the USMCA.

Trump and the leaders of Mexico and Canada signed USMCA in November at the G-20 Summit in Buenos Aires.

Pence has embarked on a national tour this spring to rally support for the trade deal, with earlier stops in Minnesota, Michigan and Indiana. 

After visiting York County Thursday, he headed to Camp Hill, with plans to speak at the Republican Party of Pennsylvania state dinner.

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