NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD-TV) — U.S. agricultural producers could face meaningful changes to North American trade rules as the Trump Administration prepares for the first six-year review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in mid-2026. In testimony to Congress, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the administration will not support a “rubberstamp” renewal of USMCA unless long-standing shortcomings — many of them affecting farmers and ranchers — are resolved.
Greer told lawmakers that while the USMCA has increased U.S. trade with Canada and Mexico since 2020, it has not fully corrected structural disadvantages for U.S. producers. Agricultural concerns featured prominently in public comments and hearings, including Canadian dairy market access, Mexico’s seasonal produce exports, country-of-origin labeling for beef, and the need to preserve science-based sanitary and phytosanitary rules.
For rural America, Mexico’s role is especially critical. Mexico has absorbed a growing share of U.S. exports as trade with China shifted. Still, Greer warned that Mexican policies encouraging third-country inputs, weak labor enforcement, and energy reforms have eroded U.S. competitiveness. Canada’s continued restrictions on dairy imports and provincial alcohol barriers were also flagged.
The Trump Administration says it will press for firm changes during the review and will recommend extending the USMCA only if agriculture and supply-chain concerns are addressed.
Farm-Level Takeaway: The 2026 USMCA review could directly affect dairy access, produce competition, and export reliability for U.S. farmers and ranchers.
Tony St. James, RFD-TV Markets Specialist
The U.S. Trade Representative’s Office also recently released a list of trade issues to be resolved with Canada ahead of USMCA talks this summer.
Host of RealAg Radio, Shaun Haney, joined on Tuesday’s Market Day Report with the latest. In his interview with RFD-TV News, Haney discussed what was included on the list and why all three countries are seeking the best possible deal; why Canadian Prime Minister Carney said an agreement will not come quickly, and whether that could jeopardize other talks around the USMCA. He also shared a takeaway related to agriculture following Greer’s recent media appearance.
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