House GOP freshmen express support for Trump’s trade agenda

All 32 Republican members of the House’s freshman class expressed their support for President Trump’s ambitious plans to forge new trade agreements and update existing pacts.

The newly elected lawmakers sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Wednesday urging the Trump administration to aggressively pursue a broad trade agenda, including a modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

“We recognize that the 23-year-old agreement needs updating, and commend your desire to make improvements and ensure strict enforcement,” they wrote to the top U.S. trade official in a letter obtained by The Hill. 

“We are also keenly aware of the potential to damage to U.S. farmers, business, manufacturers, service providers and workers if longstanding agreements are suddenly vacated,” they wrote.

{mosads}Negotiations on NAFTA are slated to start next month.

The lawmakers touted the strong U.S. trading relationship with Canada and Mexico, which are two of the nation’s largest export markets that support 14 million U.S. jobs.

Top priorities for the first-termers include ensuring new market access for U.S. exporters and capturing the security and foreign policy benefits of expanded trade. 

“Our competitors continue to negotiate agreements that expand access for their industries, which puts ours at a disadvantage,” they wrote.

“This creates a sense of urgency that makes us glad our predecessors provided you with trade promotion authority, empowering you to launch, negotiate and conclude trade agreements,” they said.

“It is our hope that you will make full use of that tool, and work hand in hand with Congress along the way.”

Trump pulled the U.S. out of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) shortly after taking office, creating uncertainty in the Asia-Pacific even as the 11 other nations continue talks to ink an agreement without the United States. 

The president has said he prefers bilateral trade agreements with close allies such as the United Kingdom, European Union and Japan over more expansive deals. 

U.S. and U.K. trade officials began laying the groundwork this week for a possible trade agreement that could be done once Britain officially exits the European Union in the next couple of years.