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NPPC: a USMCA extension benefits U.S. agriculture

The vice president of government affairs at the National Pork Producers Council says an extension of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement would benefit U.S. agriculture.

“More than one-quarter of our exports are going to both of those countries.”

Maria Zieba tells Brownfield the three countries collaborate well, especially on sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

“We’ve seen the dispute settlement panels on GMO corn. We’ve seen how those working groups have collaborated and worked to solve issues. There’s positive examples of how the agreement has been working in the way that it was designed.”

The National Pork Producers Council sent a letter to the USTR stressing the importance of renewing the agreement for U.S. farmers and providing market certainty.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative held a hearing on the USMCA in early December and will now prepare a report on the feedback for Congress by early January. A formal joint review of USMCA is expected to happen in July.