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On behalf of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, we have been advocating, with the help of John Kirchner, Executive Director of Congressional and Public Affairs for the Midwest Region of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to receive congressional approval of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This agreement will have a huge effect on the Kearney area and the state of Nebraska.
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Here is the letter that the Chamber signed to the United States Congress:
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS:
On behalf of the undersigned business and agriculture organizations and chambers of commerce from across the United States, we are writing to urge you to support the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. USMCA is critical to our economic future because it will preserve and strengthen U.S. trade ties to Canada and Mexico.
More than 12 million American jobs depend on trade with Canada and Mexico. U.S. manufacturers export more made-in-America manufactured goods to our North American neighbors than they do to the next 11 largest export markets combined, and the two countries account for nearly one-third of U.S. agricultural exports. They are also the top two export destinations for U.S. small and medium-size businesses, more than 120,000 of which sell their goods and services to Canada and Mexico.
Approval of USMCA will ensure U.S. manufacturers, farmers, and service providers can continue to access the Canadian and Mexican markets. 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. USMCA’s digital trade chapter sets a new, high standard, as the agreement does in areas from intellectual property protection to trade in services.
By creating a level playing field for trade in North America, USMCA will help U.S. companies and the workers they employ compete in our top two export markets. The case for the agreement’s approval is strong. We urge Congress to approve USMCA as soon as possible.
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The ultimate goal is to provide a tariff free trade platform which will benefit many different industries, mainly food and agriculture. The United States Chamber of Commerce has asked several influential members to support this agreement to encourage growth beyond our borders by working with Canada and Mexico to abandon previous trade laws that banned certain products such as cheese/milk, liquor, and certain vehicle production techniques. This will also help to ensure that prices can stay fair and reasonable for both parties and then on to the consumer.
We, the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, are always advocating for our work force locally, state-wide, and nationwide. We would like to see this bill go into effect to continue the growth we have seen in our city and in each one of the businesses that ensures our local economy's strength.
Stay tuned to our social media pages for updates on this important topic.