“Democrats Find the Trade Pact Tightrope: Can It Help Biden Without Boosting Trump?

As the 2020 election approaches, former Vice President Joe Biden’s aides are scrambling to figure out how to best approach President Trump’s new trade pact, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The agreement is being trumpeted by Trump as a game-changer for the US economy, but some Democrats fear implementing the agreement could actually help the President win reelection. The USMCA, a revision of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), replaces much of the framework of the 25 year-old agreement while also introducing stricter labor and environmental standards. These changes could have a positive impact on the economy, with increased jobs and economic growth for all three countries. But not everyone is so sure. There are Democrats who express concern that settling the issue of USMCA could help the President gain an edge in the upcoming election. They point to Trump’s HUGE 2016 win with North American blue-collar workers and argue that the USMCA could give him another boost with these voters. Furthermore, a Gallup survey in April 2020 found that nearly 60 percent of Americans say the US economy has improved somewhat or substantially since Trump took office, and USMCA could help him further capitalize on this sentiment ahead of the November polls. So, Biden’s aides are in a difficult spot. On one hand, if Biden rejects the USMCA, this could alienate voters in Michigan, Ohio, and other Rust Belt states that don’t benefit from the agreement. But if Biden and the Democratic Party gives Trump a free pass on the USMCA he will likely use it as a re-election talking point and it could also draw away votes from progressives who oppose the pact because it doesn’t go far enough to deter climate change, among other issues. The Biden campaign is currently trying to navigate this difficult position while still appealing to all parts of the Democratic base. The campaign is reportedly developing an alternate platform that would focus on renegotiating some of the USMCA’s provisions. This could give Biden a way to support the USMCA without angering progressives, while also demonstrating the democratic vision for renegotiating these kinds of major trade agreements. No matter what path the Biden campaign decides to take, the USMCA could have a serious impact on the most consequential election of our time. As Trump continues to promote the agreement and its potential for the United States economy, Democrats must find a way to showcase the benefits of the agreement without handing the President any political advantage. Biden’s aides have their work cut out for them, to say the least.