USMCA Likely on Hold for Impeachment Hearings

Impeachment hearings are expected to delay Senate consideration of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

The House of Representatives will vote this week to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate. Senate leaders say the impeachment trial would last roughly two weeks, with members in session six days a week.

That pushes any timeline for USMCA approval into February.

Meanwhile, following approval of the implementing legislation in the Senate Finance Committee last week, other committees needing to approve the agreement are doing so quickly this week. The Environment and Public Works Committee, along with the Senate Budget Committee, both scheduled hearings Tuesday morning.

The Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will consider the agreement Wednesday morning, along with the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Finally, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will consider the agreement Thursday morning.

However, impeachment must take priority in the Senate, therefor holding up final approval of the agreement until after the impeachment process.