The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has now officially been signed into law at a ceremony at the White House Wednesday morning. The USMCA signing by President Donald Trump marks one more step towards total ratification by all parties. The agreement will still need to be ratified by the Canadian government before it can be fully implemented. The news of the development was a cause for celebration for much of the agricultural industry.
“There is definitely increased optimism on farms and ranches across America and we’re grateful for the advances, but we’re also realists eager to see results – especially for our dairy and wheat producers,” said American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. “We know it will take time for the new deals to go into effect and translate into increased sales. We’re eager to get back into full swing supplying safe, high-quality food and agricultural products around the world.”
“Today is a good day for American agriculture,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “USMCA is critical for America’s farmers and ranchers, who will now have even more market access to our neighbors to the north and the south. I am excited to see the economic benefits of this agreement increase the prosperity of all Americans, especially those living in rural America.”
“USMCA provides U.S. pork producers with certainty in two of our largest export markets and we thank President Trump and his administration for making USMCA a top priority,” said National Pork Producers Council President David Herring. “We look forward to implementation of a trade deal that preserves zero-tariff pork trade in North America.”
With the USMCA signing, industry experts are expecting to see an increase of $2 billion in American agricultural exports. The agreement will help even the playing field for many agricultural products, through modernizing grading standards, enhancing science-based trading criteria, and increasing quotas. Many in the industry are optimistic that this trade agreement will set the stage for further development in other markets.
“Though USMCA is a big step forward, it should be a floor for future trade deals, not a ceiling; when negotiating with other trading partners, we encourage the Trump administration and Congress to build on this momentum to establish fair trade agreements that protect rural jobs, ensure fair prices for farmers, and restore sovereignty to the United States,” said National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson.
“This is a big win for America’s farmers, our rural communities and the American economy,” said National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Ross. “USMCA builds on our already successful trading partnership with Mexico and Canada. This agreement should serve as a template for opening the door to new market opportunities.”