Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 9/23/19

The nine-member USMCA working group this week will send the White House a counteroffer on changes to the three-way trade agreement, after the House Democrats and Lighthizer agreed to accelerate negotiations, per Megan and Pro Trade's Sabrina Rodriguez.

The two sides met on Friday for the first time since Lighthizer sent a formal proposal detailing how the Trump administration would consider changes to the new NAFTA to address Democrats' concerns about labor, enforcement, drug pricing and environmental provisions.

"We intend to meet again next week," said House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.), who is spearheading the working group. "We'll have a response, and hopefully the ambassador will have a response for us."