White House, business groups make push on trade pact

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House and business groups are stepping up efforts to win congressional approval for the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade accord.

But prospects are uncertain given that Republicans are at odds with some aspects of the plan and Democrats are in no hurry to secure a political victory for the president.

President Donald Trump will meet with GOP lawmakers Tuesday to try to kick-start the process for rounding up votes on Capitol Hill. Supporters in Congress and business groups say they have a narrow window to push it through, given that lawmakers tend to avoid tough trade votes during election season.

The chairman of the House subcommittee that has jurisdiction over trade, Democratic congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, says the pact needs adjustments to be “worthy of support.”