USMCA officially passed in the U.S. House Thursday and afterward many ag organizations applauded the new trade deal.
American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall:
“Farm Bureau commends the House for approving the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. It was a bipartisan effort as shown by the overwhelming 385 to 41 vote, and we appreciate the work of members of Congress on both sides of the aisle in getting this deal done.
This trade agreement could not come at a more critical time for U.S. agriculture. Farmers and ranchers have been hit with a perfect storm of low commodity prices, weather disasters, trade disruptions and a severe downturn in the farm economy. The USMCA will provide continuity in the growth of the North American market and will strengthen our trading relationships with Canada and Mexico, which are our number-one and number-two export markets, respectively.
We are hopeful that USMCA can be a model for future U.S. trade agreements, as these modernized rules will be a strong guide for addressing continuing issues. We urge the Senate to quickly approve the USMCA.”
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Jennifer Houston:
“Today was a crucial win for all U.S. beef producers and a reassurance that U.S. beef will continue to have duty-free access to Canada and Mexico,” said Houston. “A big thank-you goes to the Trump Administration and every lawmaker who voted to approve USMCA. Of course, there is still more work left to do, so I urge the Senate to swiftly pass the USMCA and send it to the President’s desk.”
National Association of Wheat Growers President Ben Scholz:
“Agriculture desperately needed a win for economic recovery, and passing the USMCA was that win. NAWG applauds those Members of Congress for their support and hard work to advance this critical trade deal one step closer to the finish line. We encourage the Senate to follow its lead and pass this deal early in the new year.”
U.S. Wheat Associates Chairman Doug Goyings:
“Mexico’s flour millers import more U.S. wheat than any other country and they have been very anxious about the outcome of this trade agreement. At the end of a conference with those millers last June, we agreed to work together to get USMCA implemented. Our colleagues at NAWG have enthusiastically joined that effort on Capitol Hill and we thank them for their support.”
National Turkey Federation:
“Bipartisan passage of the USMCA in the House brings us one step closer to ratification and the reinforcement of two crucial foreign markets for U.S. turkey products. Efforts by President Trump, Ambassador Lighthizer, Secretary Perdue and congressional leaders have made this long-standing goal a possibility, but we’re not there yet. It is time for the Senate to see the USMCA through and support America’s turkey farmers and processors by solidifying these important trade relationships with Mexico – the turkey industry’s largest export partner – and Canada. We hope to see quick action on this major priority for American agriculture in the new year.”
Agricultural Retailers Association President Daren Coppock:
“There is no doubt the House passage of USMCA is a win for America’s farmers, agribusinesses and the communities they serve,” says ARA President and CEO Daren Coppock. “This historic trade agreement will benefit agricultural retailers and their farmer customers by expanding market access and preserving zero-tariff platforms among ag products. The agreement is expected to increase ag exports and gross domestic product at a time when the ag economy sorely needs a boost.”
American Soybean Association President Bill Gordon:
“This is a win for soybean farmers and a win for the Administration and Congress. Their efforts to pass a free trade deal that can restore certainty and stability to an important export market for our farmers demonstrates that they can accomplish great things working in unison,” said Bill Gordon, soy grower from Worthington, Minn., and ASA president. “We express our thanks to the House of Representatives for this momentous act. We now look to the Senate to take up and pass USMCA in early 2020.”
National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Ross:
“Corn farmers have been working toward this vote for nearly a year, sending emails, having meetings and making phone calls to their representatives in support of USMCA. All of agriculture should be incredibly proud to see these efforts pay off with such a strong, bipartisan vote. We wouldn’t be at this stage in the ratification process without the hard work of individual farmers across the country. Ratifying USMCA has been NCGA’s top legislative priority because Mexico and Canada are the U.S. corn industry’s largest, most reliable markets. NCGA thanks members of the House for their votes in support, along with President Trump and his administration’s continued efforts to come to a bipartisan consensus. It’s now up to members of the U.S. Senate to quickly pass USMCA in the new year.”