Now that Congress is back in session, one topic that has been at the forefront is the U.S.-Mexico-Canada-Agreement (USMCA).

Governor Kim Reynolds says the U.S. is the last entity to ratify the USMCA, which will help not only the agriculture industry, but other areas as well in Iowa.

“Canada and Mexico are our top two trading partners. Not only will that bring predictability and stability to the market for our farmers, but that will impact farmers, families, small businesses, (and) manufacturing. And it’s just ridiculous that they haven’t got this ratified.”

Iowa’s Fourth Congressional District Representative Steve King says since President Donald Trump originally presented the agreement to Congress, they have 90 legislative days to vote on it, without any changes or amendments added. He says Speaker Nancy Pelosi can take as long as December before bringing the agreement up for a vote.

“Virtually all Republicans support the agreement. There are only 20-25 Democrats that do (support it). When I spoke with U.S. Trade Representative (Robert) Lighthizer on this, he said, ‘If the shoe were on the other foot and Republicans were in the majority, and there was an issue that had only 20-25 Republicans supporting it and all the Democrats (supporting it), you wouldn’t want your Speaker (of the House) to bring it up either. We need to grow the vote on the Democrats side so that Nancy Pelosi has more comfort in bringing it up.’”

King urges Iowans to contact their congress members in their respective districts to lobby for passage of the agreement. Reynolds adds the more agreements that can be made, the more pressure it will put on China to finalize a trade agreement with the U.S.