More than 200 businesses and associations have joined a new coalition that will urge lawmakers to ratify a trade agreement the Trump administration is pushing as a replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The USCMA Coalition will seek congressional approval of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, according to a statement by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which took the lead in forming the new group. The coalition's members include some of the nation's largest trade associations, such as the American Petroleum Institute, American Trucking Associations and Motion Picture Association of America.

"Over the coming weeks and months, the USMCA Coalition will make the case for expeditious passage of the agreement to members of Congress, and it will work to educate the American public about the benefits of the new deal," the Chamber said in a statement. "The effort will harness the advocacy strength of a broad membership of companies, trade associations, and chambers of commerce, including many that operate outside of Washington, D.C."

USCMA was negotiated by the Trump administration with Canada and Mexico but its ratification is far from guaranteed. Democrats have questioned the deal by arguing it could lead to higher drug prices in the U.S. and weaken labor and environmental protections. The new coalition is hoping the sheer number of businesses represented by its members will be enough to sway Congress.

The coalition's website is usmcacoalition.org.

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