McCaskill cautious about trade deal; Hartzler pleased

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill said she sees a trade deal with Canada as a “step in the right direction” but said more work is needed.

The Trump administration announced the deal late Sunday.

“This is a step in the right direction for Missouri’s agriculture producers and manufacturers that are ready for some good news after all the uncertainty and job losses that we’ve seen from the ongoing trade war,” McCaskill, a Democrat, said in a statement Monday. “But when it comes to trade deals, the devil is in the details — so I’m looking forward to working with the Trump Administration to ensure Missourians get the best deal possible with Canada and Mexico, our largest export markets. In the meantime, Missouri farmers continue to struggle with tariffs from China, and manufacturers are losing jobs due to aluminum and steel tariffs.”

Earlier Monday, U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler sent a statement praising the deal.

“I am pleased we have come to an agreement with Canada in a new U.S-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement,” Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, said in a statement issued Monday. “Opening new markets for our agriculture products and leveling the playing field with our partners is key to growing our economy and keeping rural America strong. I am particularly pleased that Canada has been willing to finally open their dairy markets. The 241% tariff imposed on our fluid milk compared to the 0% tariff the United States imposed on Canadian milk was an unfair injustice that needed to be rectified.”

President Donald Trump touted the deal between the three countries during an appearance in the White House Rose Garden on Monday, railing against the old NAFTA deal and saying the renegotiated deal will be a boon for the U.S. economy. The U.S. reached a deal with Mexico last month.