The Mexican undersecretary for North American affairs, who was the current administrator's chief negotiator in the NAFTA renegotiations, said as he meets with Democrats in Congress, "we are making progress" in convincing them that the labor reforms under consideration in Mexico are very strong. Jesus Seade, speaking at a press conference April 4 at the Mexican Embassy, added, "It doesn't mean that anybody asked, 'Seade, where do I sign?'"
President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House April 4 that he's giving Mexico a year to crack down on migration through its territory and prevent illegal drug shipments into the U.S. "Mexico understands that we're going to close the border or I'm going to tariff the cars. I'll do one or the other. And probably start off with the tariffs. That will be a very powerful incentive," he said. He said the other problem is drugs.
A bill that would ban the sale of shark fins in the U.S. passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee April 3. The bill, led by Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., also passed out of committee two years ago (see 1705180030), and had more than 30 co-sponsors and a companion House bill, but never came up for a vote in either chamber.
Pro-trade Democrats said that given the barrier of Section 232 tariffs, the fact that Mexico has not yet passed labor law reform, and other concerns, it's premature to be talking about the timing of a vote in the House of Representatives to ratify the new NAFTA. The president of the New Democrats, as well as two other trade leaders in the pro-growth caucus, talked to reporters April 2 after meeting with Canada's U.S. Ambassador David MacNaughton at the Capitol.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, complained again April 2 that President Donald Trump doesn't understand that to get the new NAFTA ratified, he has to lift tariffs on Mexican and Canadian aluminum and steel. "The president has to come to the conclusion," he told reporters on a conference call, "and I don’t know why it’s taking him so long, because he wants U.S.-Mexico-Canada [Agreement] to get through. It’s a real victory for him. It’s a real campaign promise kept. So why the slow movement on it? Get rid of them!"
The suggestion that the U.S. could shut down the ports of entry at the Mexican border "is an applause line, but it's not an idea," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at an event hosted by Politico on April 2. She said she would hope there would be enough maturity at the White House not to make the threat a reality. President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House later in the day, both reiterated the threat and softened his tone on the likelihood of it happening. While he said that if Congress doesn't make a deal to stop the practice he called "catch and release," "the border's going to be closed -- 100 percent." But he also said that Mexico has started to prevent more Central Americans from crossing their territory into the United States.
A senior member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee said he sees a path forward for ratification of the new NAFTA, and thinks some of the concerns of Democrats can be solved without going back to the table. But some freshman Democrats who belong to the pro-growth New Democrat Coalition said U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer was unbending on a provision critical to their votes.
Momentum is moving China and the U.S. toward a trade deal, Myron Brilliant, head of international affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said while speaking with reporters April 2. "We're getting into the end game phase" with China, he said. Brilliant said the negotiations with the Chinese delegation that will begin April 3 will be critical to reaching a resolution at the end of April, as both sides desire. But Brilliant emphasized that the business community is more interested in a comprehensive, durable deal that resolves long-standing complaints on discrimination against foreign companies operating in China and subsidies for Chinese firms than in reaching a quick deal.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said April 1 that closing the U.S.-Mexico border "would inflict severe economic harm" on the country, and that even threatening closure is damaging. March 29 marked the third time President Donald Trump has threatened to close the border. The first time, it was because of Central American migrants. The second time, it was because he was angry Democrats wouldn't fund a border wall (see 1812280006). This time, again, it's because of Central American migrants. He tweeted, "If Mexico doesn’t immediately stop ALL illegal immigration coming into the United States throug [sic] our Southern Border, I will be CLOSING..... ....the Border, or large sections of the Border, next week. This would be so easy for Mexico to do, but they just take our money and 'talk.' Besides, we lose so much money with them, especially when you add in drug trafficking etc.), that the Border closing would be a good thing!"
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said that unless Mexico, the U.S. and Canada go back to the bargaining table to change enforcement provisions, labor unions will oppose passage in Congress for the NAFTA rewrite. Labor unions are seeking the ability to self-initiate complaints under the labor chapter, and they want binding state-to-state disputes restored. Currently, any country can block a panel in that system.