US Rep. Jim Banks (R) listens to Lynn Howie (L) and Mike Ragan, the Kosciusko County Republican Chairman, during a public meeting hosted by Banks at Warsaw City Hall Thursday, Jan. 2. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

WARSAW – Republican US Rep. Jim Banks on Thursday predicted the new trade agreement with Canada and Mexico would boost business expansion.

Banks was at Warsaw City Hall Thursday morning for what was cast as a “mobile office hours” event, which is a recurring  opportunity his staff hosts to help with constituent concerns. Normally, the Third District lawmaker does not attend the office hours function, but attended and fielded questions from about ten people.

Banks and five people sat at the table upfront and a few others sat in the gallery for about an hour and everyone who wanted to talk certainly had a chance.

Banks said that while the 2020 presidential race might slow down legislation in the new year, he said he was hopeful that Congress could look at reducing prescription drug prices and passing an infrastructure bill.

But Banks focused much of his talk over recent work by Congress that moved forward despite the impeachment of President Donald Trump by the House of Representatives.

The revamped NAFTA trade agreement, known as USMCA (United States, Mexico and Canada Agreement), was recently passed by the House and awaits approval by the Senate.

Banks sounded hopeful about its passage and the impact it could have on business.

“When the USMCA passes out of the Senate, you’re not going to believe the job announcements in this region, you’re not going to believe the economic news in northern Indiana,” Banks said.

The agreement will provide better trade deals for farmers and said he was told by auto executives the deal “will force us to bring jobs back from Mexico.”

If approved, it could become Trump’s biggest accomplishment in his first term, Banks said.

US Rep. Jim Banks makes a point during a meeting in Warsaw Thursday. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

The trade deal also raises labor conditions in Mexico. “This is a Republican president negotiating a deal that is very labor-friendly,” he said.

Passage of USMCA and year-long spending bill represents “a remarkable set of accomplishments despite impeachment and the resistance effort from the left,” he said.

In another matter, Banks expressed concern over the attacks on the American embassy in Iraq and the apparent growing cooperation between Iran, Russia and China.

In Iraq, the American Embassy was the focus of protests and attacks for several days after the US conducted airstrikes in Syria and Iraq. US officials believe the protesters in Iraq are being propped up by Iranians.

Banks said he likes how Trump is handling the situation.

“I appreciate his restraint,” he said.

The recent joint naval exercises – described by some as war games – between Iran, Russia and China are seen as a new alignment of American opposition that is dangerous and explosive, Banks said.

Banks, who sits on the US House Armed Services Committee, said he does not recall those three countries ever working together in military operations.

Banks referred to the three countries as an “axis of evil,” echoing a phrase by President George W. Bush in 2002 in reference to Iran, Iraq and North Korea.

Of the trio, Banks sounded most concerned about China.

“Iran is the largest state-sponsor of terrorism around the globe and yet China has chosen to align themselves and join military operations with that,” Banks said. The move, he said, “should be an awakening.”

None of the three has a naval fleet that compares with the US Navy, Banks said, “but collectively, they do. That’s why it’s dangerous to see their activities jointly.”

He said he likes Trump’s approach to China.

“This president is the toughest president on China in my lifetime. Every recent president before him has chosen to hug the panda bear rather than confront the threat,” he said.