Iowa relies on trade with Canada and Mexico

The continued success of U.S. manufacturing depends on our critical North American trade partnerships. That is why manufacturers are calling for congressional passage of the new United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) agreement as soon as possible. I urge U.S. Reps. Abby Finkenauer and Dave Loebsack to support the USMCA, and push Speaker Nancy Pelosi for a vote on the agreement.

Manufacturing jobs depend on trade, and in Iowa one in four manufacturers sell to Canada and Mexico. Seventy percent are small- and medium-sized businesses supporting local economies.

Iowa's economy relies on trade with Canada and Mexico. Those two countries represent less than 4 percent of the global economy, but they are big purchasers of Iowa goods, purchasing substantial portions of Iowa's foreign sales of major manufactured goods, supporting well-paying jobs in communities across Iowa.

Iowans are counting on Finkenauer and Congressman Loebsack's support of the USMCA.

R. Mark Weems

Cedar Rapids