U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today commented on the latest United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) rapid response. The move comes in reaction to rampant collusion and corruption by local Mexican authorities and a sham union at Panasonic plants in Reynosa in the state of Tamaulipas.

“With egregious labor violations continuing in Mexico, there is an unfortunate need to put the rapid into rapid response,” said Rep. Pascrell. “Empowering workers by preventing employers from colluding with protection unions is not easy. The corrupt chains of the past in Mexico remain strong. I am thankful Susana Prieto and the workers she represents are not backing down against a union that does not legally represent the workers at the Panasonic plants in Reynosa. I hope our USTR will closely review this case with haste to give it the full and fair consideration it deserves. A stronger labor movement will ripple across the border. So, we can never stand idle in protecting workers’ rights.”

Rep. Pascrell was the first Member of Congress to raise the plight these workers were facing and Susana Prieto Terrazas case, which got former Ambassador Lighthizer to say it was a “bad indicator”. In June 2020, Pascrell led 59 colleagues in demanding the release of Susana Prieto Terrazas. Pascrell praised the filing of the first rapid response labor case to combat workers at Tridonex being denied union representation in May 2021. Pascrell applauded the Biden Administration for formally and swiftly accepting the case. Pascrell secured Ambassador Tai’s commitment to raising the labor case with Mexico in May 2021. Pascrell reacted to the settlement of the rapid response case in August 2021. Pascrell’s statement in advance of the recent vote can be found here.