Plumbing Manufacturers Support Passage of the USMCA

May 9, 2019

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was signed by the United States, Mexico and Canada in November 2018. The agreement successfully renegotiates the North American Free Trade Agreement, bringing North American trade into the 21st century with groundbreaking provisions on digital trade, state-owned enterprises, labor and the environment, among many others.

Plumbing manufacturers support the passage of USMCA and advocate for its quick implementation. Our industry depends on cross-border trade and investment to continue economic growth. The North American commercial market is one of the most important markets for manufacturers in the United States.

Canada and Mexico are Critical Export Markets for U.S. Plumbing Manufacturers

• The United States is the largest provider of plumbing products into Canada’s and Mexico’s marketplace. Our plumbing product share of Canada’s import market is 41%, and 54% respectively for the Mexican market, according to the International Trade Administration’s (ITA) Building Products and Sustainable Construction Top Markets 2016 Report.
• Trade with Canada and Mexico reached nearly $1.3 trillion in 2017, and the two countries alone purchase one-fifth of the total value of U.S. manufacturing output.
• Canada and Mexico purchase more U.S.-made goods than our next 10 trading partners combined despite representing only 6% of the world’s population.
• 49 U.S. states count Canada or Mexico as one of their top three merchandise export markets. In addition, trade with these two countries supports 12 million American jobs in every state in the union.

Message to Congress

Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) urges Congress to ratify USMCA for the following key reasons:

• The agreement preserves and strengthens America’s strong trade ties to Canada and Mexico. Importantly, it includes groundbreaking provisions on digital trade and intellectual property, raises standards, and improves transparency.
• The USMCA levels the playing field for manufacturers by providing the same binding enforcement for all obligations, from commercial issues to labor and environment.
• The continued success of U.S. manufacturing depends on our critical North American partnerships. Congressional passage of the USMCA will help plumbing manufacturers continue to grow in the United States, compete globally, and support well-paying manufacturing jobs across the country.