Yakym Leads Majority of House Republicans in Push to Strengthen USMCA

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Rudy Yakym (IN-02) led a letter signed by 168 House Republicans to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer that backs the Trump Administration’s approach to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Joint Review, pushing for improvements before agreeing to an extension. 

“President Trump is a master negotiator, and the USMCA has delivered meaningful benefits to Hoosier manufacturers, farmers, and small businesses,” Rep. Yakym said. “This review process represents an important opportunity to strengthen the agreement, and I support the President’s focus on securing improvements before agreeing to an extension. Addressing shortcomings and confronting emerging challenges will set our economy up for even more success in the years to come. I hope Mexico and Canada bring their best offers to the table so that an extension can become reality.”

The letter notes the positive benefits of the USMCA and voices overall support for an extension. It backs the Trump Administration’s approach to the Joint Review process, which prioritizes outcomes over a set deadline for securing an extension. 

Those outcomes include:

• Securing market access that was promised six years ago but not meaningfully delivered;
• Addressing new actions taken by Mexico and Canada that harm American manufacturers, agriculture, services providers, and workers;
• Confronting unfair trade and investment practices from third countries that seek to undermine the North American economy and threaten American jobs; and
• Rationalizing tariff structures to strengthen regional competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Background:

Support for the letter spans the conference. Nearly 90% of the Ways and Means, Agriculture, and Energy and Commerce Committees signed on, along with 80% of Appropriators and 85% of committee chairs.

July 1 marked the first USMCA Joint Review, in which the U.S., Mexico, and Canada met to decide whether to extend the agreement for 16 more years. Mexico and Canada agreed to an extension, while the U.S. did not. 

The USMCA remains in force until 2036 as the three sides continue to discuss improvements to the agreement.

USTR Jamieson Greer has said that the U.S. wants to secure commitments from Mexico and Canada that improve market access for American producers and make other changes before agreeing to a renewal.

Yakym sits on the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over U.S. trade policy, and has closely tracked the USMCA Joint Review.