The American Press

<p class="indent">President Trump recently announced the completion of successful trade negotiations with our Northern American trading partners, Canada and Mexico.

<p class="indent">So far, the news has received a positive reception and hopefully will result in fair consideration and a bipartisan vote in Congress next year.

<p class="indent">The new agreement replaces the 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA.

<p class="indent">The new deal is called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. The agreement will go into effect in 2020 if it is approved by the legislatures of all three nations.

<p class="indent">The trade deal received an enthusiastic response from Wall Street and its counterparts in Canada and Mexico with stock surges.

<p class="indent">Here are some of the highlights of the deal that have been reported:

<p class="indent">• Canada and Mexico are prevented from making a trade agreement with Communist China without U.S. approval.

<p class="indent">• Dairy farmers see hope in overcoming discriminatory pricing by Canada over dairy powder exports.

<p class="indent">• A steel industry analyst said the deal was an encouraging sign for the American steel industry.

<p class="indent">• The trade deal tamps down concern over a trade war, since Trump showed a willingness to reach trade deals that are fair to all parties.

<p class="indent">• The trade deal will relieve the concerns of American farmers about disruptions in the movement of food products between the three countries.

<p class="indent">• More car and truck parts sold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico must be made by North American manufacturers.

<p class="indent">• There will be more data protection for biologic drugs and other products.

<p class="indent">• There are prohibitions in the deal to deter counties from artificially weakening the exchange rates in order to gain trade advantages with the three countries.

<p class="indent">The leaders of all three countries feel the USMCA is a good deal. So far, it sounds like the deal is receiving bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress.

<p class="indent">Hopefully the new agreement will receive a fair hearing and bipartisan vote so all three nations can benefit from a new era of fair international trade.

<hr />

This editorial was written by a member of the <em>American Press</em> Editorial Board. Its content reflects the collaborative opinion of the Board, whose members include executive editor <strong>Crystal Stevenson</strong>, <strong>John Guidroz</strong>, retired editor <strong>Jim Beam</strong> and retired staff writer <strong>Mike Jones</strong>.