Jared Golden calls Trump’s ‘NAFTA 2.0’ deal ‘more of the same’

Calling President Donald Trump's proposed revision of the North American Free Trade Agreement "NAFTA 2.0," U.S. Rep. Jared Golden of Maine joined a handful of Democratic colleagues in vowing to oppose the deal without major changes.

"Putting a new paint job on the old NAFTA won't work," the 2nd District congressman said in a prepared statement.

"Without significant changes to this proposal, Maine will see the last two decades repeated: closed mills, outsourced jobs, and stagnant wages," the Lewiston Democrat said.

Trump, though, pushed Congress during his State of the Union speech this week to approve the revised pact he named the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

The president said NAFTA, approved a quarter century ago, was a "historic trade blunder" that his new deal would replace "and deliver for American workers: bringing back our manufacturing jobs, expanding American agriculture, protecting intellectual property, and ensuring that more cars are proudly stamped with four beautiful words: Made in the USA."

There appears to be considerable skepticism on Capitol Hill among lawmakers of both parties who worry the deal signed in November doesn't do enough to encourage trade, protect the environment or benefit working Americans.

Golden is one of six labor-friendly House Democrats who issued a statement this week taking issue with the president's proposal.

READ MORE: Jared Golden calls Trump's ‘NAFTA 2.0' deal ‘more of the same'