Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 9/30/19

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and the nine House Democrats negotiating changes to the new NAFTA deal have "reached agreement on a couple of substantial issues," Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.) said Friday.

The Ways and Means chairman and head of the Democratic working group didn't specify which areas have been nailed down, but he said staff-level negotiations will continue over the two-week recess and the objective is still to ratify USMCA this year, Pro Trade's Sabrina Rodriguez reports.

Pick your sports metaphor: Neal said lawmakers hope to see "the goal line" when Congress resumes session later this month. Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) said negotiations are "entering the sixth inning," while Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) cautioned that "this has never been viewed as a slam dunk."