Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) sent a report to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer urging the continuation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA). The report summarizes over a hundred meetings and conversations that Rep. Larsen’s office has had with farmers, businesses, municipalities, ports and other stakeholders across Northwest Washington over the past year.
“Continuing the USMCA deal will lower costs and create jobs in our communities by restabilizing the economic relationship between the U.S. and two of our largest trading partners,” said Rep. Larsen. “Across conversations with the people I represent, I have heard how USMCA helps families and communities thrive. The United States should negotiate in good faith to enhance and renew USMCA, and fully enforce the provisions of the agreement to help lower prices and create more good-paying jobs.”
Today, the required joint review of USMCA began, which USTR is leading together with Canada and Mexico. The Trump administration announced that the U.S. did not agree to renew agreement in its current form, opting instead to spend the coming months renegotiation the deal.
Rep. Larsen’s report to Ambassador Greer summarizes local stakeholders’ broad support for USMCA and top priorities to enhance the agreement during renegotiations:
- Providing predictability and reducing uncertainty when it comes to tariff rates, regulations and trade policy;
- Sustaining and facilitating integrated, tariff-free cross-border supply chains, particularly with Canada; and
- Ensuring WA-02 farmers, producers and businesses can compete in the United States and worldwide on a level playing field, addressing both tariffs and non-tariff measures.
Trade with Canada and Mexico supports 320,000 jobs in Washington state, according to the Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT). In the past six years, Washington state businesses saved $126 million in direct tariff costs thanks to USMCA (WCIT).
In Northwest Washington, the U.S.-Canada partnership is especially important. Trade between Northwest Washington and Canada supports 2,200 jobs in Whatcom County, 1,400 in Skagit County and 3,800 in Snohomish County (Trade Partnership/Connect2Canada data).
“President Trump’s pointless tariffs and reckless rhetoric towards Canada have hurt families and businesses I represent,” said Rep. Larsen. “Rising shipping and manufacturing costs, along with instability from constantly changing tariff policies, have pushed prices up for families and stopped companies and tourists from bringing their business to Northwest Washington.”
This year, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appointed Rep. Larsen to be the top Democrat on the U.S.-Canada Interparliamentary Group, an organization that connects American and Canadian legislators to promote information sharing and better understanding on shared issues of concern.
Born and raised in Arlington, Washington, Rep. Larsen has a deep personal history with British Columbia and the U.S.-Canada relationship. As a member of Congress, he has been a leader on issues involving Canada, including trade, environmental protection in the Salish Sea and Pacific Northwest, the Arctic, security and border management.
Rep. Larsen’s full report to Ambassador Greer is available HERE. The contents of this report reflect priorities and feedback on the USMCA review that stakeholders shared. The report is not an endorsement of each of these positions by Rep. Larsen.
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