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Jacksonville, Fla. –  On Monday, U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) joined Vice President Mike Pence, Rep. John Rutherford (R-Fla.) and Correct Craft President Bill Yeargin in Jacksonville to discuss the significance of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

“The USMCA levels the playing field for Florida’s workers,” said Waltz. “For far too long, our trade relationships with Mexico and Canada were exploited and unenforceable. The USMCA closes those loopholes that China and bad actors leveraged to the detriment of American jobs and wages.”

Leaders of the three countries involved signed the USMCA on November 30, 2018 but the agreement must be approved by Congress to enter into effect. The USMCA includes rules of origin, market access, intellectual property rights, agriculture, digital trade and labor provisions.

Florida exported $6.7 billion in goods to Canada and Mexico in 2017, with transportation equipment being the top export to the two countries. Under the USMCA, companies will be incentivized to invest and produce materials domestically.

Waltz encouraged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to put the implementation bill up for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives so it can be sent to the U.S. Senate for approval.

“Congress has a responsibility by law and to the American worker to approve the agreement,” Waltz said. “I urge Speaker Pelosi to put it up on the House floor for a vote instead of grandstanding and dragging her feet on another President Trump success.”