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ISSA Celebrates USMCA Signing

Earlier today, U.S. President Donald J. Trump signed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The trade deal with Canada and Mexico is a bipartisan update of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) from 1994. U.S. Mexico has already approved it and Canada is expected to consider the agreement in the coming weeks.

“Passage of USMCA is extremely important to manufacturers and distributors of cleaning chemicals, products, and equipment,” said John Nothdurft, director of government affairs for ISSA. “The updated trade agreement between these three countries is critical to the cleaning industry. Similarly, cleaning service providers, their employees, and consumers will see benefits by having access to a wide array of cleaning product choices, more affordably. ISSA, on behalf of its more than 9,200 members worldwide, would like to thank the U.S. Congress and President Trump for approving this important trade deal.”

ISSA has been an active member of U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Coalition, a group of more than 400 U.S. companies and associations that were working to secure congressional approval of the trade agreement. A coalition letter signed by ISSA sent to members of Congress explains, “The new pact guarantees that virtually all U.S. exports will enter these markets tariff-free. USMCA will also modernize North American trade rules. For example, when NAFTA was negotiated a quarter century ago, there was no e-commerce; consequently, the agreement did not address this sector. While no trade agreement is perfect, USMCA’s updated trade rules in areas such digital trade, services, and non-tariff barriers promise substantial benefits.”

Additionally, ISSA has signed onto numerous coalition letters, launched an email campaign in its Action Center, and attended coalition meetings urging Congress to pass USMCA.