U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09), ranking member of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, issued the following statement after landing in Montreal, Canada for the Sixth Round of the renegotiation and modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

"I look forward to meeting with the NAFTA negotiators from all three countries in Montreal as we work to improve and strengthen NAFTA. I will be pushing for higher standards that help both U.S. and North American workers across the board,” said Rep. Pascrell. “Regardless of other changes, if a renegotiated NAFTA  does not address needed labor reforms in Mexico, American companies will continue to outsource jobs south of our border. Mexico must allow independent unions to form and collectively bargain for higher wages. United States Trade Representative Lighthizer should update and strengthen the language around labor standards in NAFTA, and ensure we can fully enforce higher standards with our trading partners."

In June 2017, Rep. Pascrell gave remarks during the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s hearing on NAFTA renegotiation, calling on the administration to spell out clear and specific objectives. During the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Hearing on NAFTA in July, Rep. Pascrell laid out Democratic objectives, including creating new and good-paying jobs, raising wages and standards of living in the United States, and following through on meaningful trade enforcement. He also led a letter from 183 Members of Congress calling for USTR Lighthizer to end the outsourcing of good-paying American jobs by negotiating for strong labor standards that end wage suppression and support increased labor rights for Mexican workers.