WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to today’s announcement by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai that the U.S. has asked Mexico to investigate allegations of workers’ rights abuses at General Motors’ (GM) Silao complex in the state of Guanajuato,Congressman Jimmy Gomez, a lead labor negotiator of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), issued the following statement:
“When I was appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to serve on the House Democratic Working Group on trade to negotiate the USMCA, I was committed to ensuring the rights and dignity of workers in the U.S. and across North America were upheld and strongly enforced. After six months of multilateral talks, thoughtful deliberation, and numerous proposals, my Democratic colleagues and I succeeded in brokering the most progressive trade agreement in our nation’s history, one that recognizes and values the contributions of the labor movement here in the U.S. and abroad.
“Today’s action by the Biden-Harris Administration reflects our shared dedication in upholding the historic labor rights standards we fought for in the USMCA and represents a new era in American trade relations with our global partners. As a former labor organizer, I deeply appreciate this administration’s leadership and Mexico’s cooperation in enforcing the vigorous oversight and accountability mechanisms my colleagues and I secured in the USMCA. Together, we can protect the rights of workers to organize in Mexico and level the economic playfield for workers throughout North America."
