Luján Highlights Potential Impacts of Trump’s Trade War on New Mexico Businesses in Trade Representative Hearing

Trade Representative Nominee Cannot Guarantee New Mexico Business Won’t Get Hurt From Trump’s Trade War

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, questioned U.S. Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer on the potential negative impacts President Trump’s trade war would have on New Mexico businesses and families. During the hearing, Mr. Greer could not guarantee that New Mexico businesses would not face negative impacts.

Senator Luján secured Mr. Greer’s commitment that if New Mexico businesses were negatively impacted, Mr. Greer would work with Senator Luján to address the impacts. Additionally, Senator Luján secured commitment from Mr. Greer on labor protections that exist in the current United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement to protect workers.

Watch Senator Luján’s exchange with Mr. Greer here.

KEY MOMENTS:

On language in USMCA regarding labor protections:

Sen. Luján: Would you protect or change the language surrounding the clauses in the trade agreement to workers as it’s currently drafted?

Mr. Greer, in part: We worked closely in the first Trump administration with labor.

Sen. Luján: Mr. Greer, as my time is expiring, would you protect that language?

Mr. Greer: I would certainly protect it and see if we can improve it.

On Trump’s trade war:

Sen. Luján: So, Mr. Greer, can I get your commitment that if these tariffs negatively impact the businesses in New Mexico, that I have your word to get that corrected?

Mr. Greer, in part: Well, Senator, I want to hear from you on what those impacts are and what we can do to make sure they are able to benefit from the growth.

Sen. Luján: I believe your word should be good, but do I have your word that I can count on you to make sure that New Mexico’s businesses don’t get hurt by these threatened tariffs?

Mr. Greer, in part: Senator, I want to make sure that they don’t, I can’t guarantee economic outcomes.

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