News Release, McKayla 2020
WALDORF, MD – Mckayla Wilkes, progressive Democratic candidate for Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, on USMCA’s shortcomings:
“I have strong concerns about the proposed USMCA; in particular, its ability to enforce and strengthen labor protections and environmental standards. Though I am glad to see this agreement adopt such a robust stance on freedom of association and am heartened that all signatory countries plan to meet their obligations to the International Labor Organization, I am worried about yet another free trade agreement that does not give voice to workers and does not provide a firm framework for improving labor laws in either the United States, Mexico, or Canada. Twenty years ago, NAFTA created a trade system that did not let workers lodge their own complaints and ultimately benefited corporations over working people. Unfortunately, the USMCA does nothing to break this cycle of abuse or properly address climate change with the urgency it deserves, and I am worried that the language used will never be put into practice. Instead of passing a top-down trade deal such as this, the United States should work with labor unions, workers’ groups, and environmental protection agencies across all three countries to develop a system that puts workers and the environment first and corporate profits second.”
