A House Democrat playing a key role in negotiations over President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE’s new North American trade pact said Tuesday that talks to win congressional support for the deal will likely “seep into next year.”

Rep. Rosa DeLauro Rosa Luisa DeLauroOvernight Health Care: CDC pulls revised guidance on coronavirus | Government watchdog finds supply shortages are harming US response | As virus pummels US, Europe sees its own spike Trump HHS official faces firestorm after attacks on scientists Ahead of a coronavirus vaccine, Mexico's drug pricing to have far-reaching impacts on Americans MORE (Conn.) told The Middletown Press in an interview published Tuesday that House Democrats are unlikely to support Trump’s proposed North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rewrite before the start of 2020.

“When we get to where we need to get to, we will move,” said DeLauro, a member of a House Democratic working group negotiating with the White House on changes to the deal.

“We’re not there yet. And that’s critically important to understand.”

ADVERTISEMENT

DeLauro’s warning is the latest sign of trouble for one of Trump’s main legislative priorities heading into the 2020 presidential election.

While House Democrats say they are open to approving Trump’s NAFTA rewrite, called the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), they have refused to take up the deal without measures to tighten labor and environmental standards and enforcement.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiDemocratic senator to party: 'A little message discipline wouldn't kill us' Overnight Health Care: New wave of COVID-19 cases builds in US | Florida to lift all coronavirus restrictions on restaurants, bars | Trump stirs questions with 0 drug coupon plan Overnight Defense: Appeals court revives House lawsuit against military funding for border wall | Dems push for limits on transferring military gear to police | Lawmakers ask for IG probe into Pentagon's use of COVID-19 funds MORE (D-Calif.) has expressed optimism in reaching a deal with the administration, and Democrats have praised U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer Robert (Bob) Emmet LighthizerWhiskey, workers and friends caught in the trade dispute crossfire GOP senator warns quick vote on new NAFTA would be 'huge mistake' Pelosi casts doubt on USMCA deal in 2019 MORE as honest and forthright in the midst of high tensions with the White House.

But top Democratic trade leaders insist that the White House has not yet satisfied their requirements for tougher enforcement of the pact in Mexico. Democrats have also expressed concerns about USMCA’s impact on prices for certain high-cost biologic medicines.

Trump, Vice President Pence and GOP lawmakers have toured the country to build pressure on Democrats to support the deal. Top White House officials have said that they will not submit it to the House until Pelosi signs off, which is a frequent point of frustration for Republicans.

“In the days and weeks that lie ahead, we are going to continue to work every day to ensure that manufacturing across this country continues to grow and thrive and we are going to keep fighting until Congress passes the #USMCA!” Pence tweeted on Aug. 26, shortly after touting the deal in a speech in South Carolina.