US Senate passes USMCA trade deal with Canada, Mexico

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly approved the new North American trade deal with Canada and Mexico on Thursday.

The bill cleared the Senate floor in a 89-10 vote ratifying President Donald Trump’s U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate will send "this landmark" deal to the Trump's desk, according to The Hill news site, where he is expected to sign.

"Quite a week of substantive accomplishments for the nation, for the president, and for international trade," said McConnell ahead of the vote.

In December, the USMCA, cleared the House of Representatives with bipartisan support in an overwhelming 385-41 vote, with thirty-eight Democrats, two Republicans and Independent Justin Amash voting against the deal.

The USMCA was proposed more than a year ago as a replacement to the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, which eliminated trade barriers between the three countries.

The deal was finalized Dec. 10 after representatives of the three countries signed it in Mexico.