ARTESIA, N.M. (KRQE) – Vice President Mike Pence dropped in on Artesia, New Mexico, Wednesday afternoon.
His campaign visit focused on the trade agreement the president is pushing for. The vice president told the crowds the new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada would greatly bolster the booming oil industry in New Mexico.
“To keep the American economy, to keep the American energy rolling, President Trump and I need to level the playing field by leveling the playing field for American energy and American workers. Trade deals that put America first,” Pence said.
The USMCA which the vice president is referring to is a renegotiated version of the NAFTA agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Pence told rally-goers if Congress approves the deal between our neighboring countries, it would open up new markets for New Mexico products, and create jobs.
“Nearly half of New Mexico’s exports go to either Canada or Mexico, and it supports 15,000 jobs, so the USMCA is not only a win for America, it’s a big win for New Mexico,” he said.
The event was held at Elite Wells Services, a growing company in the oil-industry. It was the vice president’s second visit to New Mexico in the past few months.
KRQE News 13 spoke with him after the meeting and asked if he considers New Mexico a battleground state for the 2020 election. He said, “yes.”
The president lost New Mexico by eight points in 2016.