U.S. Senator Katie Britt, R-Ala., with Senator Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., introduced a concurring resolution expressing the sense of Congress that U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai’s closed-door negotiation regarding Annex 14-C of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement is not legally binding unless approved by Congress. The resolution also makes clear the USTR nor any other federal agency can invoke the “joint interpretation” in any legal proceeding or assert it has any legal consequence unless and until it is formally approved by Congress.
The resolution comes as President Biden’s administration has sought to reinterpret Annex 14-C of the USMCA with Mexico and Canada without the consent or appropriate consultation with Congress. These talks have included USTR Ambassador Tai actively undermining American interests, which would rob American companies, like Birmingham-based Vulcan Materials Co., of protections that have enabled investment into foreign-trade-partner nations.
“President Biden’s lame-duck administration is effectively renegotiating USMCA behind closed doors without properly informing Congress and without regard for American interests. These misguided talks will rob American companies, like Alabama’s Vulcan Materials, of protections that have enabled investment into foreign trade partner nations. President Biden is essentially negotiating away due process for Americans. This concurring resolution makes clear to the President that his administration’s actions in an eleventh-hour, shadowy negotiation will not be tolerated,” said Senator Britt.
“The American people issued a mandate on November 5: they want President Trump’s agenda, and they want it now,” said Senator Tuberville. “For the Biden administration to try to ram through this anti-American business policy at the last minute is a slap in the face to the 77 million Americans who voted for President Trump. It’s especially concerning for Alabama-based Vulcan Materials Company in its ongoing dispute with the Mexican government. Senator Britt and I will continue working diligently to make sure Alabama businesses are put first on the world stage, not last.”
The full text of the resolution can be viewed here.
