Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi appears doubtful that the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement will be passed this year.
After she met with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Richard Neal last week, there was no deal and not much time left on the legislative clock.
“We’ve made progress,” she said after leaving the 90-minute meeting.
“I think we’re narrowing our differences.”
She said earlier in the day that they’ll still have several steps to take even after they finally reach an agreement.
The clock is ticking. Last Thursday was the last day before the House takes its Thanksgiving break.
The Trump Administration and some Democrats hoped to strike a deal before the week-long recess to give lawmakers time in December to take up the pact.
The House only has eight days of official session left in the 2019 calendar year.
Lawmakers will stay on for an extra week in December to resolve budget issues and avoid a government shutdown.
