Schakowsky statement ahead of NAFTA 2.0 signing

Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky released the following statement ahead of the expected signing of NAFTA 2.0, the ‘new’ North American trade agreement, in Buenos Aires tomorrow on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

“The deal that President Trump is rushing to sign tomorrow will not do nearly enough to raise wages for workers, lower costs for health care consumers, or protect the environment. As we have seen this week with the announced closures of five General Motors facilities, President Trump’s grand promises to stop outsourcing and create more American manufacturing jobs were completely empty. By signing legislation like last year’s GOP Tax Bill that includes new incentives to outsource jobs, the President is giving tax breaks to offshoring multinational corporations instead of pursuing policies that put workers first.

“The NAFTA 2.0 text now being signed will be no differentthan the last agreement unless trade officials make essential improvements. Namely, swift and certain enforcement of the pact’s labor standards must be added.The current NAFTA 2.0 text would not stop NAFTA’s outsourcing, downward pressure on wages or environmental damage. I fear we will hear more stories like GM in the coming months and years unless the NAFTA deal is significantly improved. We must eliminate big PhRMA provisions that will increase pharmaceutical profits at the expense of patients.

“If enacted as is, NAFTA 2.0 would not only raise drug prices in Canada and Mexico, but would tie Congress’ hands, preventing us from enacting essential reforms needed to lower prescription drug prices. Despite President Trump promising time and time again to rein in the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs, the trade deal being signed tomorrow would lock in the outrageously high prices that U.S. health care consumers face today. NAFTA 2.0 would guarantee the manufacturers of biologic drugs ten years of monopoly power in the marketplace. The deal will keep drug prices high and inaccessible for too many Americans.

“Unless it is significantly improved, NAFTA 2.0 will result in more broken promises by Donald Trump to American workers. The people of the United States, as well as our neighboring allies, deserve much, much more. I will do whatever I can to prevent Congress from approving this flawed and dangerous agreement.”