US and Mexico say trade deal is on track after last-minute objections

Top trade negotiators from both the United States and Mexico reaffirmed Monday that the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, known as USMCA, is a done deal -- despite complaints from Mexico over the weekend about a labor provision included in the bill unveiled by Democrats. The trade agreement is still headed for debate and a vote in the US House later this week. The Senate is expected to take it up in January after impeachment. Mexico's Undersecretary for North America, Jesus Seade, rushed to Washington to meet with trade officials Monday, after writing to US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to say he was "surprised" about the modifications to the USMCA, which has already been ratified in its original form by both Mexico and Canada. But on Monday, Seade said he was "very satisfied" with the new terms. At issue was a labor provision added in negotiations between Lighthizer and House Democrats that designates up to five inspectors from the United States Department of Labor to be stationed in Mexico working on implementing labor reform. Mexican officials said they were not consulted on this addition. But Lighthizer clarified Monday that the five US workers would be providing technical assistance, disbursing capacity building funds, and providing assistance to a new US government interagency labor committee. "These personnel will not be 'labor inspectors' and will abide by all relevant Mexican laws," he wrote in a letter to Seade, which his office made public. At a press conference in Washington on Monday afternoon, Seade said he was pleased with the terms laid out in Lighthizer's letter regarding the five US workers...MORE