The pressure is on as stakeholders in the US try to get the USMCA trade agreement passed before the end of this year. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer held meetings with Democratic lawmakers in an attempt to resolve their concerns to make progress on the trade deal.

US President Donald Trump has accused the Democrats of stalling attempts to ratify the agreement and delaying the deal from replacing the older NAFTA agreement. On Wednesday, Lighthizer and other trade officials held meetings with a working group of Democrats as well as Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee.

In addition, his team also met with congressional staff earlier this week as the Trump administration tried to get the agreement passed before next year’s presidential elections. The struggle has turned political with Trump and team accusing Democrats of stalling to cost them a possible victory on this issue when he stands for reelection.

Democrats, meanwhile, allege that they want concerns around issues of labor, climate and enforcement addressed before ratification of the USMCA. On the back of the impeachment inquiry, getting the USMCA passed through Congress would count as a significant victory for Trump.