Shutdown Informs USMCA The current U.S. government shutdown not only delays the U.S. International Trade Commission’s analysis of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) but signals its potential demise. Our prior analysis concluded that because USMCA improves labor union goals, it would be difficult for congressional Democrats to vote against it. However, it can be argued that the current government shutdown defies that same group’s self-interest, and yet their position persists. The cost of the shutdown greatly exceeds the 0.1 percent of federal spending sought by the White House for border wall/barrier funding. Labor unions are a core Democratic base, and government workers are the largest share of organized labor. No one...

TAGS – Europe, North America