Pelosi: Deal on new NAFTA 'imminent'

House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiTrump knocks testimony from ‘Never Trumpers’ at Louisiana rally Jordan calls Pelosi accusing Trump of bribery ‘ridiculous’ USMCA deal close, but not ‘imminent,’ Democrats say MORE (D-Calif.) on Thursday said that a deal to update the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was “imminent.”

“I do believe that if we can get this to the place it needs to be, which is imminent, that this can be a template for future trade agreements, a good template,” she said at her weekly press conference.

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House Democrats have been involved in intense negotiations with the Trump administration over provisions of the new trade deal, called the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

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Democrats have sought stronger enforcement provisions, particularly in regard to labor, environmental and pharmaceutical issues.

Pelosi met Thursday afternoon with the top Democrats negotiating the deal, and is scheduled to speak with U.S. Trade Representative Robert LighthizerRobert (Bob) Emmet LighthizerPelosi sounds hopeful on new NAFTA deal despite tensions with White House On The Money: Economy adds 164K jobs in July | Trump signs two-year budget deal, but border showdown looms | US, EU strike deal on beef exports Chinese, US negotiators fine-tuning details of trade agreement: report MORE later.

Rep. Richard NealRichard Edmund NealOn The Money: Trump appeals to Supreme Court to keep tax returns from NY prosecutors | Pelosi says deal on new NAFTA ‘imminent’ | Mnuchin downplays shutdown threat | Trump hits Fed after Walmart boasts strong earnings Pelosi: Deal on new NAFTA ‘imminent’ Trump lawyers want heads up if Dems intend to request NY state tax returns MORE (D-Mass.), the head of the Ways and Means Committee that oversees trade, said he did not expect an announcement Thursday, but indicated that talks were nearing completion.

“There’s still a few issues that we’re trying to zero in on,” he said, adding that the support of the AFL-CIO and other labor groups would be necessary to clinch the deal.

That support, he said, was in reach.

A deal, which Neal said he hoped would pass before New Year’s, would be a key victory for President TrumpDonald John TrumpButtigieg surges ahead of Iowa caucuses Biden leads among Latino Democrats in Texas, California Kavanaugh hailed by conservative gathering in first public speech since confirmation MORE, who made replacing NAFTA a central part of his 2016 campaign. It would also be a victory for Democrats, who could claim a new model of labor-friendly trade deals.

Pelosi said she would like to see the deal pass by year’s end.

“I’d like to see us get it done this year. That would be my goal,” she said.

The deal would come as the House is expected to wrap up an impeachment inquiry into Trump and potentially vote on articles of impeachment. Passage could offer Democrats a rebuttal against Republicans, who have accused them of prioritizing impeachment above legislation.