NAFTA negotiators head into the fourth of seven scheduled rounds of talks this week in Washington, and agriculture is concerned as the talks enter a critical stage.
American Farm Bureau trade adviser Dave Salmonsen says the pace of talks and discussion of more sensitive issues is heightening tensions as the three-NAFTA partners try to score so-far, elusive gains.
U.S. produce growers are also seeking anti-dumping protections against Mexican tomatoes.
But non-ag issues, including domestic auto content, government procurement, and dispute settlement, plus President Trump’s own threats to pull out of NAFTA are raising tensions.
Other options include continuing the talks or suspending them, which might have to happen anyway with national elections next year in Mexico.
But Salmonsen says AFB and broadly, American agriculture, want NAFTA to continue and preserve huge gains since the deal first took effect in the early 1990s.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.