WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) released the below statement after President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto signed an agreement to authorize a new trade deal updating the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA):

“I’ve long-said that this deal must raise wages for workers, safeguard workers’ rights and reduce outsourcing, but without strong enforcement mechanisms, it’s like buying a safe without a lock.

“Last week, GM announced they’re closing plants and cutting jobs – it’s clear President Trump has an outsourcing problem. And while GM’s greedy executives gladly accepted the gifts from President Trump’s tax scam, they took jobs away from American workers. Trump promised to prevent outsourcing, but this new NAFTA won’t stop job loss here at home.

“Our workforce suffered from NAFTA, and in South Jersey alone 19,500 manufacturing jobs have been lost since NAFTA came into force, which is simply unacceptable. Giving the old NAFTA a new name without new enforcement won’t bring those jobs back and won’t help workers going forward.”

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• In October 2018, Norcross commented on the Trump Administration’s posted text for NAFTA 2.0 / the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
• In August 2018, Norcross reacted to news that the United States and Mexico made an agreement to replace NAFTA.
• In August 2017, as the renegotiation period officially began, Norcross sent a letter with colleagues to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer urging an open and transparent trade negotiating process.
• In July 2017, Norcross commented on the announced NAFTA renegotiation principles.
• In May 2017, Norcross also stood with House colleagues in calling for renegotiations to focus on American workers when the Trump Administration sent the formal notice of renegotiation to Congress. (Photos from the press conference can be found here.)

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