Everett Griner talks about trade future for NAFTA and TPP in today’s Agri View.
Trade Questions
A lot of farmers and others in agriculture are wondering about our new president’s promise to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). A lot of people blame NAFTA and the new TPP for the loss of industrial jobs.
Generally speaking, NAFTA has been good for agriculture. The two trade agreements have accounted for about half of U.S. agriculture trade with that part of the world. Over half of the cotton we grow in the world is exported. Breaking up NAFTA would likely put those export markets in the hands of China.
Three of the top five export customers are China, South Korea and Vietnam. Of course we know what would be renegotiated, but this is the case where the old adage ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ certainly applies.
That’s Agri View for today. I’m Everett Griner.