Establishment of the Interagency Environment Committee for Monitoring

Mar 5, 2020

Summary

Creates a group to make sure the United States, Mexico, and Canada follow the environmental rules in their trade agreement.

What problem does this solve?

The USMCA trade deal has environmental rules, but there was no specific group to ensure they were followed. This order creates a committee to monitor and enforce these environmental promises.

What does this order do?

Creates a new environmental committee

Establishes the Interagency Environment Committee for Monitoring and Enforcement to watch over environmental rules in the USMCA trade deal.

Defines committee members

Appoints the U.S. Trade Representative as the chair and includes members from agencies like the EPA, Department of State, and Department of Justice.

Sets up decision-making rules

States that the committee will try to agree on decisions unanimously. If they can't agree, a majority vote will decide the matter.

Who does this affect?

Federal agencies
Businesses involved in US-Mexico-Canada trade
Environmental organizations

What is the real world impact?

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Ensures environmental promises are kept

Creates a formal group to watch over the environmental parts of the USMCA trade deal. This helps make sure that the U.S., Mexico, and Canada all follow the rules they agreed to protect the environment.

When does this start?

This order takes effect immediately as of February 28, 2020.