Today, U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09), Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, issued the following statement after returning from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiations in Montreal, Canada.

"If we have any hope of continuing NAFTA and seeing essential changes, we need to make it a modern document that helps American workers as well as workers in other countries," said Rep. Pascrell. “I am hopeful that Ambassador Lighthizer is working to balance corporate interests and worker interests in negotiations. While I have great respect for the citizens of Mexico, their government has to understand that they must comply with modern, internationally-recognized labor standards. Environmental standards must also be strengthened and enforced. I look forward to continued consultations with Ambassador Lighthizer and further progress on these issues."

Last week, Rep. Pascrell led a letter from 183 Members of Congress to the United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer expressing concern over the outsourcing of good-paying American jobs to Mexico as a result of Mexico's low labor standards. The letter also called for improved NAFTA language that would combat wage suppression and support increased labor rights for Mexican workers.

Media coverage of Rep. Pascrell's efforts in Montreal can be viewed below:

Reuters: U.S. lawmakers at NAFTA talks express optimism about modernizing trade pact

"Earlier on Sunday, Democratic Representative Bill Pascrell said that he did not believe that Mexican negotiators were serious enough about addressing labor problems that have kept Mexican wages too low."

Bloomberg: All Eyes on U.S. After Week of Cautious Optimism in Nafta Talks

"’I’m more optimistic than I was six months ago,’ said Bill Pascrell, a Democratic member of the House Ways and Means Committee and one of about 10 lawmakers who flew to Montreal for meetings on the sidelines of negotiations. The talk of tearing Nafta down has changed, he said. ‘Let’s make this marriage work.’”

Politico: All eyes on Lighthizer in NAFTA round 6 finale

"’How can you have a trade deal with a country that doesn’t recognize its own humanity? I don’t know,’ Rep. Bill Pascrell, the ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, told reporters on Sunday. Pascrell and Reichert were part of a delegation of about 10 House members who were in Montreal for the talks."

CBC News: Congressmen 'optimistic' U.S. won't scrap NAFTA

"Every marriage is different. This was a marriage 25 years ago and then it seems like the partners go in different directions," Bill Pascrell, a representative from New Jersey, said. "Now it's time for some counselling to bring people back together again, not only on trade but on other issues."

Global News: https://globalnews.ca/video/3992536/u-s-at-odds-with-mexico-as-nafta-talks-continue- in-montreal

           https://globalnews.ca/video/3991670/nafta-talks-take-optimistic-tone-in-montreal/