February 12,2026

Crapo Statement at Hearing on USMCA

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing to discuss the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

As prepared for delivery:

“Thank you all for joining us today for this timely hearing on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA.

“Almost exactly six years ago, Congress and the President approved the USMCA.

“The Senate overwhelmingly endorsed the Agreement 89 – 10, the most bipartisan vote ever taken in the Senate on a free trade agreement.

“This demonstrates the broad support for trade deals that expand jobs, wealth and growth in the United States.

“Six years later, we are now on the road to the Agreement’s first joint review, where we can assess whether USMCA commitments deliver as intended.

“The answer is largely yes.

“Overall, USMCA protects American jobs, strengthens domestic manufacturing and continues to grow the U.S. economy.

“For example, trade with Canada and Mexico supports 13 million American jobs. That is roughly the population of the entire Pacific Northwest.

“Moreover, since the enactment of USMCA, $775 billion were invested in the U.S. from Canada and Mexico, which is a 55 percent increase from pre-USMCA.

“USMCA propelled the United States to export $60 billion in agricultural goods to Canada and Mexico, which represents nearly one-third of all U.S. agriculture exports.

“Is USMCA a perfect agreement? No, but no agreement ever is.

“For instance, I have long called for more robust enforcement of USMCA commitments—including, but not limited to, ag biotech, dairy, digital trade, energy, financial services and intellectual property.

“In fact, both chambers of Congress approved USMCA with large bipartisan majorities largely because of its strong rules and its mechanisms necessary to enforce those rules.

“It is therefore critical for the United States to ensure that all its stakeholders—including U.S. farmers, businesses and workers—fully benefit from USMCA.

“I appreciate and commend President Trump and Ambassador Greer’s unwavering commitment to enforce the Agreement, and I look forward to working with them in that effort.

“But, as the USMCA review proceeds, it is wise also to remember to not let the perfect become the enemy of the good.

“Mexico and Canada are two of our most important trading partners. That strong partnership will continue to drive forward America’s economic competitiveness.

“This trilateral relationship should not be taken for granted.

“This message is generally reflected in the 1,500 comments submitted to the U.S. Trade Representative in December.

“As Ambassador Greer recently acknowledged during a Finance briefing on USMCA, “many stakeholders expressed support for the USMCA and many explicitly called for the Agreement to be extended” in those comments.

“Many of those public comments and testimony conveyed the singular importance of business certainty, which is best achieved by a timely conclusion to the review and extension of the Agreement.

“Today’s hearing is an opportunity to continue the conversations necessary to deliver on USMCA and business certainty in the United States.

“I look forward to hearing what our knowledgeable witnesses have to say as we evaluate the issues underlying this first joint review.”