United States Vice President Mike Pence addressed more than 1,000 Manitowoc employees at an event hosted by the company at its manufacturing facility in Shady Grove, Pennsylvania. Pence called on Congress to ratify the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which will secure duty-free market access for U.S. equipment manufacturers to the industry’s two largest export markets.
“The time has come for Congress to pass the USMCA,” said Pence. “This agreement is a good deal for Pennsylvania, it’s a good deal for American workers. And we’ve got to get it done and we’ve got to get it done this year."
According to the vice president, the new trade deal will add $68 billion to the U.S. economy and create over 176,000 jobs.
“The USMCA will make sure equipment manufacturers such as Manitowoc are better positioned to compete and win in the global economy,” said Barry Pennypacker, president and CEO of Manitowoc.