USMCA timeline speeds up in Senate

UPDATED The Senate could pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement as soon as this week.

Trump Administration trade advisor Peter Navarro said on Fox News Sunday morning that the Senate will mark up the bill in the finance committee on Tuesday and have it for a vote by Friday or next Monday.

“Once it’s marked up, Leader McConnell will then have the opportunity to put it on the floor, and the beauty of fast-track legislation is that it’s a maximum of 20 hours once it goes to the floor for the vote. It’s got a large bipartisan support in the Senate,” Navarro said.

USMCA easily passed in the House of Representatives in mid-December and has been widely supported by the produce industry.

Most Senators of both parties have been supportive of the trade deal. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, said last week that she would vote to pass USMCA, despite her past criticism of free trade agreements.

Her Democratic presidential candidate rival Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, said in December that he will vote against USMCA, but other liberal Senators have shown support.

The delay in the impeachment articles has allowed the Senate more time for USMCA.

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