Congresswoman Barbara Lee recently voted against the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), which would replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which went into force in 1994.

“Due to Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi and the negotiators’ tireless work, this USMCA is better than current NAFTA and what the Trump Administration presented in the original agreement.”

“However, after careful consideration, I voted NO on the passage of USMCA.”

“Our planet is feeling the effects of climate change every day, and the lack of strong environmental protections is something I cannot abide. The USMCA supports dirty fossil fuels, allows oil and gas corporations to run rampant, and fails to address toxic pollution. Without stronger environmental protections, this trade deal will have consequences to the climate for decades to come.”

“I pledge to continue work to address climate issues relating to globalization and trade policy,” said Lee.

The House passed the new North American trade deal Dec. 19, ending a more than year-long struggle to iron out Democratic concerns about the agreement.

The chamber approved the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, one of President Donald Trump’s economic and political priorities, in an overwhelming 385-41 vote. Thirty-eight Democrats opposed it. The trade pact now heads to the Senate, which is expected to ratify it next year, according to CNBC.

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Most Republicans and Democrats have praised the latest version of the three-nation deal, which replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement. GOP lawmakers and key business groups said it will follow through on Trump’s promise to refresh NAFTA — though they have criticized concessions to the Democratic-held House on intellectual property standards.

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