Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 11/7/18

With Democrats in charge of the House, the path to ratification for the new North American trade pact just got a little bit steeper. Trump's signature trade achievement could still be approved in 2019, but Democrats are now in position to demand changes to labor and environmental provisions in the deal, Pro Trade's Adam Behsudi reports today.

"The Democrats are not going to make it easy for political reasons, but there's a path there," said Bill Reinsch, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He predicted Democrats will say "not good enough" on the agreement's labor language and tell Trump's trade officials to "go back to Mexico and do better."

Labor groups could be instrumental in brokering a political understanding on trade between Trump and congressional Democrats to advance the new North American trade pact. Labor unions have already called for changes to the deal. Labor and environmental improvements could be less of a factor in potential trade deals with economically advanced economies like Japan and the EU.

Change of power at Ways and Means: Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal is in line to take charge of the House panel that oversees trade policy.