Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley
Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyLighthizer starts GOP charm offensive on Trump trade deal Bottom line Graham: FBI investigation in 2016 turned into a 'criminal conspiracy' MORE (R-Iowa) said Wednesday that President Trump
Donald John TrumpSanders urges impeachment trial 'quickly' in the Senate US sending 20,000 troops to Europe for largest exercises since Cold War Barr criticizes FBI, says it's possible agents acted in 'bad faith' in Trump probe MORE should tread lightly in his effort to persuade Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiSanders urges impeachment trial 'quickly' in the Senate Tech legal shield included in USMCA despite late Pelosi push GOP senator warns quick vote on new NAFTA would be 'huge mistake' MORE (D-Calif.) to move forward with a revised version of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
“It's very necessary that the president hold his patience, because nothing's going to happen if Pelosi doesn't want it to happen,” Grassley said, referring to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
House Democrats in recent months have engaged in a series of meetings with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer
Robert (Bob) Emmet LighthizerGOP senator warns quick vote on new NAFTA would be 'huge mistake' Pelosi casts doubt on USMCA deal in 2019 Pelosi sounds hopeful on new NAFTA deal despite tensions with White House MORE to discuss the trade agreement. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal
Richard Edmund NealAFL-CIO backs Trump's North American trade pact Pelosi announces support for new Trump NAFTA deal Trump expresses confidence on USMCA, touts Democrat support MORE (D-Mass.) said he expects his panel to take up the deal in September or October.Congressional Democrats are seeking changes to aspects of the trade deal — enforcement, environment, labor and pharmaceuticals — before they approve the accord.
Grassley raised concerns that Trump might blow up the trade deal if “some protectionists in the White House want to force the issue.”
“So somebody there in the White House that doesn't have common sense better not push the president to do something erratic,” Grassley said.
In the past, Grassley has threatened to set aside the deal if Trump follows through on certain tariff increases. The Iowa Republican successfully pressured the White House to strike a deal lowering steel and aluminum tariffs on Mexico.
