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.
Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller warns horse owners after EHV-1 cases linked to the Waco WPRA Finals. Horses linked to recent Waco events should be isolated and closely monitored, as early action is critical to stopping the spread of EHV-1.
November 24, 2025 02:47 PM
·
One trader said the products entering the U.S. are primarily grind and trim, noting that the volume and type of beef, on its own, should not cause a major disruption. However, he says fund traders are reacting heavily to headlines rather than market realities.
November 24, 2025 02:42 PM
·
Shaun Haney, host of RealAg Radio, provides the latest insight into the timing, expectations, and broader considerations of the potential aid package, despite increasing exports to China.
November 24, 2025 12:42 PM
·
Farm legal expert Roger McEowen reviews the history of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and outlines how shifting definitions across multiple administrations have created regulatory confusion for landowners.
November 24, 2025 12:38 PM
·
Leslee Oden, president of the National Turkey Federation, and Jay Jandrain, CEO of Butterball, joined us in the studio on Monday to discuss the history, significance, and expectations surrounding this year’s presidential turkey pardon.
November 24, 2025 12:04 PM
·
According to November’s Cattle on Feed Report, Nebraska now leads the nation in cattle feeding as tighter supplies continue to reshape regional market power and long-term price dynamics.
November 24, 2025 11:47 AM
·
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) estimates that the move will save farmers and ranchers $2.5 billion each year. The group warns that new methods for calculating the adverse-effect wage rate would result in lower pay for foreign workers.
November 24, 2025 11:32 AM
·
Higher rail tariffs and tighter Canadian supplies will keep oat transportation costs firm into 2026.
November 24, 2025 11:22 AM
·
Lower U.S. and Mexican production means tighter sugar supplies and greater reliance on imports headed into 2026.
November 22, 2025 11:00 AM
·
