John,
What do monarch butterflies, vaquita porpoises, jaguars, and sea turtles have in common?
They all benefit from a critical international trade agreement among the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Called the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, it provides environmental investigation provisions that let the three nations hold each other accountable for protecting the planet and wildlife.
For example, under the agreement Mexico has been investigated for bycatch of sea turtles and for not enforcing its fishing bans in critically endangered vaquita habitat; it’s also facing scrutiny for illegal logging in monarch habitat and illegal construction in jaguars’ range. The United States was investigated for failing to protect endangered right whales from fishing gear and vessel strikes. And Canada’s shipping pollution in the Pacific Ocean is up for review.
The three countries are now in discussions to update the trade agreement. We need to make sure they maintain and strengthen environmental provisions — rather than gut them, leaving some species high and dry.
Call on the U.S. trade representative to strengthen these provisions so the agreement has strong enforcement mechanisms holding all three countries accountable.
