The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups are urging lawmakers to pass President Trump's North American free trade deal despite the House Democrats' impeachment push.

"The American people expect their elected officials to walk and chew gum at the same time," Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the Chamber, told The Hill newspaper in a statement.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) was negotiated to replace NAFTA and requires congressional approval. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told reporters Thursday that she is moving ahead on the deal and hopes for approval, the Hill reported.

The Chamber has led the USMCA Coalition along with the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Association of Manufacturers, among others.

"It is imperative for our economy that lawmakers and the administration keep moving forward on and complete enactment of USMCA. There are no excuses for inaction," Bradley said.

The National Retail Federation said it is hopeful that work on the deal will speed up.

"We appreciate the work between the House Working Group and USTR to address the key issues in USMCA for the Democrats. We understand that work will continue and hopefully speed up to a final resolution," Jonathan Gold, the group's vice president of supply chain and customs policy, told The Hill in a statement.

"Passing implementing legislation for USMCA is a top legislative priority for Business Roundtable to boost North American trade that supports over 12 million American jobs," spokeswoman Jessica Boulanger told The Hill.

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