Canada's two main opposition parties on Wednesday hinted at possible action to delay ratification of the revised US Mexico Canada agreement (usmca), accusing the Liberal government of a mess in the talks.
The move will embarrass Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said parliament would soon ratify the agreement. Senior officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States officially signed the latest revision of the agreement on Tuesday to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Trudeau lost a majority in the house of representatives in the October general election, and needs the support of other parties to quickly pass the new agreement. Opposition lawmakers can delay the approval process through procedural procedures.
The Conservatives complained that the Liberals did not consult them in the final stages of the revision negotiations. In the house of Representatives, conservative congressman Leona alleslev said Trudeau had "timidly accepted" the terms offered by the United States and Mexico.
Trudeau replied that he was sure that all members would support the agreement.
This is unlikely to happen, however, as the bloc Quebecois, the party that pursues Quebec's independence, vowed to vote against the agreement on the grounds that it did not protect the province's powerful aluminium industry.
According to usmca, 70% of the steel and aluminum used for automobile production must be produced in North America, and the use of semi-finished steel from China and other countries is specifically prohibited, but there is no such provision for aluminum.
Yves Francois Blanchet, the leader of the leading political group, called the deal a disaster for aluminum workers in Quebec and accused Trudeau of abandoning the industry.
Trudeau countered that the agreement was good news, saying that Quebec would produce a large amount of aluminium used by North American car factories.
Hot Model No.: