House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Monday signaled that Democrats were “within range” of a deal with the White House on updating the North American Free Trade Agreement.
“We are within range of a substantially improved agreement for America’s workers. Now, we need to see our progress in writing from the Trade Representative for final review,” she said in a statement.
Democrats have been negotiating terms of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement with the White House for months, seeking to entrench strong enforcement mechanisms on issues such as labor, environment and pharmaceuticals.
President Trump, who inked the deal with America’s neighbors late last year, has accused Democrats of dragging their feet in talks.
The ongoing impeachment inquiry, he has repeatedly said, was impeding progress.
Last week, following a meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.), Democrats said only a few issues remained.
Democrats have also labored to ensure that trade unions approve of the deal, saying an agreement could set a new template for trade deals going forward.
While Democrats had said it was possible to wrap up work and pass legislation on the deal by year’s end, Pelosi said last week that the process could stretch into 2020.
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