USMCA legislation approved in Commons amid concerns about Canada-U.S. border

Mar 13, 2020 | 8:13 AM

OTTAWA — The leader of the government in the House of Commons says MPs have passed legislation to ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and the Senate is expected to follow suit later today.

Pablo Rodriguez made the announcement as he detailed a multipartisan deal to suspend the House until April in an effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Canada is the only signatory in the three-way North American trade deal still to ratify it, a cornerstone of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade agenda.

Doing so could help Canada in its discussions with the U.S., which is banning foreign nationals who recently visited Europe — a move some fear could put pressure on the Canada-U.S. border and the flow of trade and commerce between the two countries.