USMCA, China trade talks advancing this week

by | Sep 24, 2019 | 5 Ag Stories, News

Trade talks continue this week between the U.S. and China as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement inches closer to reality. President Donald Trump says talks last week between the U.S. and China “were very positive.” Negotiations will continue this week ahead of high-level talks planned sometime next month. A Chinese delegation canceled U.S. farm visits last week, but apparently not because of the ongoing trade negotiations. Officials say the trips were canceled to avoid excessive media attention.

Meanwhile, Democrats in the House of Representatives plan to submit a counterproposal to the White House this week on changes to USMCA, according to Politico. House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal says the USCMA working group would meet with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer this week to ?intensify the discussion.? Neal is hopeful the group and Lighthizer can ?strike a deal soon,? that allows the House to vote on the agreement. Neal says the concerns raised by Democrats are not resolved but added the Trump administration has ?made substantial progress.?