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USMCA remains vital for American agriculture despite trade concerns

A trade expert with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says the U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade agreement is crucial for American agriculture.

Kent Bacus, Executive Director, Government Affairs, says the USMCA has been great for U.S. beef. “We already have full, unrestricted access to Canada and Mexico,” he says. “They’ve become really good export markets for us.”

But, he tells Brownfield the review is turning more into a renegotiation.  “Because Canada and Mexico have not been good trade partners in delivering some of the promises they made six years ago,” he says. 

For example, Bacus says there are still a lot of dairy issues that need to be addressed with Canada and biotech issues with Mexico.

“You can’t ignore those factors,” he says. “But what we’re hoping is that as these adjustments are made and these renegotiations occur, that they don’t throw the baby out with the bath. This is not a trade agreement that needs to go away. This is something that needs to be improved.”

The review is scheduled to begin this July.

AUDIO: Kent Bacus, NCBA