Now things are official: The implementing bill of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement has been introduced and approved by the House. The bill now moves to the Senate, and the clock is ticking.
On Friday, Dec. 13, H.R. 5430—the “United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act”—was introduced to the House of Representatives. The bill was sponsored by Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05) and cosponsored by Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23). It was immediately referred to several committees, including Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Natural Resources, Budget, and Agriculture.
The House voted to approve the bill 385-41 on Dec. 19
“Today was a crucial win for all U.S. beef producers and a reassurance that U.S. beef will continue to have duty-free access to Canada and Mexico,” said Jennifer Houston, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president.
The bill is large and includes many specific articles. Articles of particular interest to cattle producers include:
• Title II, Section 201; Ag safeguards—Amends the Uruguay Round Agreement Act to exempt Mexico and Canada from special agricultural safeguards established in that act.
• Title II, Section 202; Rules of origin—Establishes definitions related to origin statements, including the definition of “goods wholly obtained or produced entirely in the territory of one or more USMCA countries.” This definition includes a live animal born and raised in the territory of one or more USMCA country, as well as parts of it or waste/scrap items derived from it.
• Title VIII, Subtitle B, Section 821; Border water infrastructure—Establishes jurisdictions and timelines related to the management of the Tijuana River watershed, which is shared between the U.S. and Mexico.
The North American Free Trade Agreement will be repealed when the USMCA enters into force. USMCA will take effect, at the earliest, 30 days after it is signed by President Donald Trump. However, the bill must make it through the Senate within 90 congressional days, and its analogs in Canada and Mexico must pass those countries’ legislative bodies as well. — WLJ
