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Big pharma provision removed from USMCA text

A House Democrat says one of the compromises that helped the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement move forward had to do with big pharma.

Minnesota’s Angie Craig tells Brownfield the original USMCA text included a provision for brand name pharmaceutical companies that would’ve forced farmers to choose between open markets and their prescription drug prices.

“You hear people talk about the biologics provision, but I led a letter earlier this year that 100 members signed onto urging the Administration to remove that provision. And I’m pleased to report that the Administration has done so.”

In fact, Craig says despite the rhetoric about nothing but conflict in Washington right now, she’s pleased with how the Trump Administration handled USMCA negotiations down the stretch.

“In particular, U.S. Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer. He’s been working with Democrats like me behind the scenes for months to push toward ratification of this trade deal, and I’m confident he’s got the votes.”

She says the final provisions that Democrats worked on with Ambassador Lighthizer will make a big difference for American workers and family farmers.