Jun 19, 2019 - Economy & Business

Mexico becomes first country to pass USMCA trade deal

Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto (L) US President Donald Trump (C) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, sign a new free trade agreement in Buenos Aires, on November 30, 2018, on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Mexico became the first nation to ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal on Wednesday with little opposition within the Mexican Senate, reports Politico.

Details: The new North American free-trade agreement may not be in its final format as House Democrats demand changes to the deal regarding enforcement, labor, the environment and drug pricing, per Politico. Mexico must sign off on any future changes.

  • Some Democrats and labor unions are concerned that Mexico may be unable to fulfill the labor requirements.
  • Mexican officials hope passing the trade deal will alleviate trade tensions they've felt since President Trump took office, reports the Washington Post.

What's next: The ratification process moved quickly in Mexico, but is likely to face a slower procedure in the U.S. and Canada.

  • Trump wants Congress to pass the deal this summer, even though Democrats plan to fight for some major changes first, says Politico. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not yet scheduled the ratification vote.
  • The trade deal has been introduced in Canada. If Trump and the Democrats reach an agreement, the Canadian parliament will likely hold a vote this summer, per the Post. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is supposed to meet with Trump at the White House on Thursday to discuss USMCA.

Go deeper... Trump to Dems: Pass USMCA trade deal before infrastructure

Go deeper

Axios
Updated 2 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 7:30 p.m. ET: 18,982,658 — Total deaths: 712,266— Total recoveries — 11,477,642 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 7:30 p.m. ET: 4,873,747 — Total deaths: 159,931 — Total recoveries: 1,598,624 — Total tests: 59,652,675 — Map.
  3. Politics: Pelosi rips GOP over stimulus negotiations: "Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn" — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tests positive.
  4. Public health: Majority of Americans say states reopened too quickly — Fauci says task force will examine aerosolized spread.
  5. Business: The health care sector imploded in Q2 — More farmers are declaring bankruptcy — July's jobs report could be an inflection point for the recovery.
  6. Sports: Where college football's biggest conferences stand on playing.
Go deeper (<1 min. read)Arrow
Dave Lawler
23 mins ago - World

Nuclear free-for-all: The arms control era may be ending

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

The mushroom clouds over Hiroshima and Nagasaki have remained unreplicated for 75 years in part because the U.S. and Soviet Union — after peering over the ledge into nuclear armageddon — began to negotiate.

Why it matters: The arms control era that began after the Cuban Missile Crisis may now be coming to a close. The next phase could be a nuclear free-for-all.

Go deeper (3 min. read)Arrow
Rashaan Ayesh
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Pelosi, Schumer demand postmaster general reverse USPS cuts ahead of election

Schumer and Pelosi. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Thursday calling for the recent Trump appointee to reverse operational changes to the U.S. Postal Service that "threaten the timely delivery of mail" ahead of the 2020 election.

Why it matters: U.S. mail and election infrastructure are facing a test like no other this November, with a record-breaking number of mail-in ballots expected as Americans attempt to vote in the midst of a pandemic.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow