Donald Trump, the US president, signed the implementing legislation for the USMCA, a trade deal with Canada and Mexico to replace Nafta that was agreed after three years of testy negotiations with the North American neighbours and Democrats on Capitol Hill.
Mr Trump signed the law at a White House ceremony on Wednesday, touting it as a major accomplishment on his economic agenda that eventually garnered bipartisan support in Congress. The deal, however, will not take effect until Canada’s parliament ratifies the deal, in a process that is likely to involve potentially lengthy negotiations between Justin Trudeau’s government and opposition lawmakers.
The USMCA updates the 1994 Nafta pact, which Mr Trump had heavily criticised for driving US jobs to Mexico, with a new digital chapter and other changes in line with the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement negotiated by Barack Obama. Mr Trump withdrew the US from the TPP before it took effect.