Trump expresses confidence on USMCA, touts Democrat support

President Trump on Tuesday expressed confidence for a deal on the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), touting Democratic support minutes before House Democrats were scheduled to hold a news conference on the trade deal.

“America’s great USMCA Trade Bill is looking good. It will be the best and most important trade deal ever made by the USA. Good for everybody — Farmers, Manufacturers, Energy, Unions — tremendous support. Importantly, we will finally end our Country’s worst Trade Deal, NAFTA!” Trump tweeted, referring to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

“Looking like very good Democrat support for USMCA,” Trump continued. “That would be great for our Country!”

America’s great USMCA Trade Bill is looking good. It will be the best and most important trade deal ever made by the USA. Good for everybody – Farmers, Manufacturers, Energy, Unions – tremendous support. Importantly, we will finally end our Country’s worst Trade Deal, NAFTA!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 10, 2019

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) are slated to hold a news conference at 10 a.m. They are widely expected to announce support for an agreement with the White House on the USMCA, which would pave the way for it to be brought to the House floor for a vote.

Trump also spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, as a deal on the trade pact appeared imminent.

“The two leaders reaffirmed their strong support for the trade agreement, which will create jobs and economic growth in the United States, Canada, and Mexico,” a White House spokesman said Tuesday.

House Democrats have pushed off allowing the agreement to get a vote on the House floor, negotiating with the White House as they sought to strengthen its labor and environmental regulations. 

A deal on the USMCA comes as House Democrats press forward with an impeachment inquiry into Trump that is likely to culminate in a House vote on impeachment articles in the coming days.

Minutes before Trump’s tweets about the USMCA Tuesday, House Democrats also unveiled articles of impeachment against the president over his dealings with Ukraine.