Agriculture Secretary hails USMCA

(Washington, D.C.) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today issued the following statement regarding the signing of the new trade pact, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), replacing the outdated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): “I have often said that we live in the best neighborhood on Earth – North America – and the signing of a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada helps cement our highly integrated relationship as nations.  President Trump has fulfilled a promise, which many said couldn’t be done, to renegotiate NAFTA and improve the standing of the entire American economy, including the agriculture sector.

“The new USMCA makes important specific changes that are beneficial to our agricultural producers.  We have secured greater access to the Mexican and Canadian markets and lowered barriers for many of our products.  The deal eliminates Canada’s unfair Class 6 and Class 7 milk pricing schemes, opens additional access to U.S. dairy into Canada, and imposes new disciplines on Canada’s supply management system.

"The agreement also preserves and expands critical access for U.S. poultry and egg producers and addresses Canada’s discriminatory wheat grading process to help U.S. wheat growers along the border become more competitive.

“This is good news for American farmers and we now need Congress to follow suit and enact the necessary implementing legislation.  I commend President Trump and our U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Lighthizer, for their perseverance, leadership, and hard work,” Secretary Perdue added.