Rep. Brian Babin from the InBox:
Babin Statement on Trade Deal with Mexico and Canada
DEER PARK, TX – U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36) issued the following statement after the United States, Mexico and Canada agreed to a new trilateral trade deal to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The new United Stated-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is expected to receive an up-or-down vote in Congress next year.
“I applaud President Trump for delivering on his campaign promise to strike a new deal with Mexico and Canada – a feat many claimed impossible. The 36th Congressional District is a hub of international trade and is the second largest exporter in the State of Texas. Though I have long had concerns with certain provisions of NAFTA, with trade such a vital part of our economy, it is imperative any trade deal does not significantly disrupt existing economic sectors and fulfills the President’s promise to reform the deal in the best interests of working Americans.
“Congress now must review and vote on USMCA, and I pledge to carefully evaluate this deal before the vote to ensure it is good for Texas and America. I also want to seize this opportunity to resolve the Loadmaster issue and ensure a fair resolution by PEMEX and the Mexican government. President Trump’s policies have spurred our economy to its best performance in decades, but we are not finished yet. I look forward to continue working with the President for the benefit of the people of Texas.”
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I live in Rep. Babin’s district. I am stunned by this press release. I haven’t seen a poll anywhere indicating that he is in trouble in CD-36. His opponent is Dayna Steele, the self professed queen of rock and roll. Seems like a nice person but her policy recommendations are certainly on the Democratic Socialists of America side of the aisle. And it is critical to remember that my part of this district, Harris County, has no say in this election. If we did, we would be talking about a completely different Representative. Hi Mike! Hi Ben! But this district is controlled by deep East Texas. And if they go back to voting for Democrats……
Babin is (seemingly) running away from the President’s latest foreign policy victory.
Wow.
Just wow. If our district is close, we (fellow Republicans) are in deep, deep trouble. Just sayin’.
Steven Finkelman says
Give the man a break! He didn’t say he has any specific concerns or problems with the deal. Only that he has a responsibility to review it and make sure it’s in the best interest of his district. He even congratulated the president on accomplishing “a feat many claimed impossible.”
Jeff Larson says
Will we have to pass this trade deal to find out what is in it?
I do not trust anyone who says this is a good deal or a poor one unless they have read through it and also read through the NAFTA that it replaces.
I also want specifics. For example, I saw the other day that Mexico can sell cars to the US at a low tariff provided that a certain portion of the parts are American-made. What’s the point of that, except to ensure that any cars Mexico sells to the US are shoddy and overpriced? If American auto-parts suppliers are competitive on the world market, Mexico will gladly buy from them. If they are not, this won’t save their jobs unless you pay extra for your next car to subsidize them.
This is why people didn’t like NAFTA…it really wasn’t a “free trade” agreement. Right now, all we have is lip service that this agreement is an improvement for the US. I’d just like to see some verification of that.
Greg Degeyter says
Overall I agree with you. However, since you asked for specifics…
Some of the bigger impediments to free trade are unequal wage and environmental regulations as well as market isolation. This agreement hits on those issues to some degree.
Using your auto point as an example, the wages for Mexican workers effectively have to increase to $16/hour in order to qualify for the low tariff.
Canada now has to provide greater access to US dairy products and must stock US wines on the same shelves as Canadian wines.
The American made component is a big win. That point means Mexico can’t import a vehicle that was made in Asia, slap wheels on it in Mexico, and have the low tariff. It eliminates the backdoor around tariffs being used to bring others to the negotiating table.
State Rep. White says
I am honored that Congressman Babin is representing CD 36. I am absolutely proud of the work that the Trump Administration is doing in trade. Just phenomenal work in less than two years. Why wouldn’t we want a legislator to read the agreement before unconditionally supporting the agreement let alone voting for the agreement.
By the way, as your blog has highlighted many times, I think it is Harris County that has trended/gone Democratic. Actually rural East Texas is trending more conservative and Republican. Thank God for rural East Texas voters. In my House District, Trump went 81-17. I think Clinton won Harris County by double digits. We have a lot of work to do
David Jennings says
Don’t give up on us yet, Rep. White! Many Republicans in Harris County are still fighting to keep the county red.
My only point is that if, and I did say if, deep E. Texas goes back to voting Democrat, it is a huge problem for the state.
DJ
James White says
I am with you Bro!!
DanMan says
Isn’t Babin representing the same district Charlie Wilson had? That was a very liberal district back then. Babin’s been reliable from what I have seen and I don’t see him rejecting the USMCA deal based on what he wrote.
I don’t think Texas has as much to gain with this change as other parts ( and specific industries). Texas held a slight trade surplus with Mexico last year. China will be impacted the most because of the way Canada and Mexico supported the work around they used to avoid tariffs. Having cars meet a 75% origination threshold in North America will juice our domestic production.
With the retirements of Byron Cook and Joe Straus the Texas GOP appears to be moving in the right direction. Dan Flynn should be targeted next.
Berna Mac says
Representative Babin, thank you for your sincere comments to read over the newer version on NAFTA and this time making sure we in Texas do not lose but gain on the jobs and economic growth. This was very neglected by our previous Conservatives in name only Representative both in Texas and in DC Offices.
Representative White you made a profound statement on reference to Harris County gone Democrat to which I agree. We, Republicans gave UP the City of Houston to the Democrats becsuse we were attacked by several wrong doings on those that ran as Republicans in some of the offices. We were suppose to have taken a strong stance on not losing Harris County. We began to lose one of the largest counties around the country again because of some corruptions in important seats held as Republicans in key areas. We then began to keep our distances and ran our cattled to the North, Northwest, and Westside areas. We hovered there for many years on safely Repiblican districts.
Now, Senor White, why are losing those areas too? Here is the reason: (1) Republicans did not like to go into the “over-there” because they could get robbed, (2) why go over there when we have these sides close to our homes, (3) we dont want to engage, educate, and register them over-there as to why we are the Republican Party. (4) we will not register anyone on thst side because how can Republicans be assured they will vote for us?, (5) We failed them because Republican candidates did not mingled, visit high schoolers, have training set up where candidates would and SHOULD have come to speak about facts on their economic growth for their areas, jobs and better school education for their families to meet the new century, the effects of immigration policies and their future, medicaid in the State of Texas, the Gold Card holders, (6) New transit and transportation growth coming because of the dredging and widding for big ships coming up from Central America.
Those are extremely important topics to Latino families particular down East and South of Houston which is part of Harris County, up towards Victoria too. That is why I call educating all voters no matter where they live.
Having our Republican Judges Family and Civil entwining with families on the effects of families issues, topics geared on steps that can endanger their immigration status, Civil Judges or Attorneys running for Judgeships to discuss issues and on the job site injuries, OSHA provisions too.
Nope!! They get nothing of that, but when election time comes around we want to talk to whoevet can get us in there. It does not work like that.
Who will contradict or add some common sense to my points.
Bob in Champions says
Given that 1/3 of his district’s economic output is directly related to the Port of Houston and the Port of Beaumont (and half the people in his district live near the Port of Houston and Ship Channel), he should have been the member of Congress MOST involved in the USMCA (which is the crappiest name we could have come up with- good thing most people are just calling it what it is… “New NAFTA”).
Instead, Babin keeps to his traditional 80s GOP mantra “government is the enemy.” It played 30 years ago, and it still plays well enough with his voters that he doesn’t have to change his tune.
As a moderate, I feel a little embarrassed that the best thing we can say about the guy who replaced Steve Stockman is “well, at least he’s not Steve Stockman” (given that he’s in a GOP-safe seat).
Babin is still very safe. Let’s not forget that the last time he had a Democrat on the ballot against him, he ended up winning about 76% of the vote.
But, this district is going to get sliced and diced in 2021- while Harris County isn’t the “majority” of the district, it cast over 41% of the votes in 2016 and almost all the population growth of his district is in Harris and western Chambers County. In the 80s and 90s, the counties closer to Beaumont grew with “White Flight” from Beaumont (mainly people moving from West and North Beaumont out to Vidor, Lumberton, and other towns just outside of Jeff-County.