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Lindberg: Mexico talks advancing, Canada remains a challenge

The USDA’s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs says the USMCA review process has had both successes and challenges.

Luke Lindberg tells Brownfield significant progress has been made in negotiations with Mexico.

“I know the teams have been in consistent communication,” he said. “I was actually down in Mexico last week on a non-USMCA related matter and heard from the Mexican government that they agree the process is moving forward.”

But he says talks with Canada have been a different story.

“With Canada right now it’s been pretty clear the president is unhappy with them in the way specifically they’ve been treating our alcohol sales in Canada and our dairy sales,” Lindberg said. “For too long they’ve been discriminating against our dairy producers, so we’d like to get past those hurdles before we can really engage in full force on broader USMCA review with Canada.”

Lindberg says Canada continues to manage its dairy sector in ways that don’t match the original intent of the agreement.

“I think everybody knows what needs to happen,” he said. “It’s just a matter of political courage and goodwill to do it.”

He says the U.S. also wants to preserve opportunities for ethanol exports to Canada.

Lindberg spoke to Brownfield on Tuesday at the Iowa State Fair: