"This agreement will bring continued decades of economic prosperity."
WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation welcomed today’s signing by President Trump of legislation to implement the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
“We believe this agreement will bring continued decades of economic prosperity that will benefit American consumers and the millions of U.S. workers whose jobs depend on the free flow of trade with our nation’s two closest trading partners,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Goods and materials have easily crossed North American borders for more than a quarter-century, and this modernized agreement will do the same for the new digital economy and set the stage for innovations yet to be seen. We hope to see the Canadian Parliament ratify the USMCA as soon as possible so the benefits of free trade in North America can continue uninterrupted.”
NRF has been a leading supporter of the administration’s efforts to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement, and Shay was at the White House today as Trump signed the legislation into law. Shay cited provisions on digital trade, customs procedures and trade facilitation as key improvements in the new agreement.
The USMCA bill was approved by the House in December and by the Senate earlier this month.
About NRF
The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail thrive. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs — 42 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies.