AG Daily
Bipartisan senators push to protect ag trade ahead of USMCA review
By AGDAILY Reporters
As the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement approaches its first mandatory six-year review, a bipartisan group of senators is emphasizing just how critical the trade pact has become for American agriculture, and why maintaining strong market access must remain a priority.
U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi joined 39 of their colleagues in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, voicing support for the agreement while urging continued engagement with farmers and ranchers during the upcoming review process.
“For many states, Canada and Mexico represent the largest and second-largest export markets. The market access achieved under USMCA is a critical component of the success of American agriculture and contributes to our secure food supply chain and to the global competitiveness of U.S. producers,” the senators wrote.
That message reflects the real-world stakes for producers across the country. According to the letter, the United States exported $176 billion in agricultural goods in 2024, with Canada and Mexico serving as top destinations for commodities like corn, wheat, and oilseeds.
Beyond market access, lawmakers highlighted the importance of stability and predictability for agricultural operations — something they say USMCA has delivered since replacing NAFTA in 2020.
“American family farmers and ranchers depend on the certainty afforded by a stable Agreement,” the senators wrote. “The integrated supply chains facilitated by streamlined compliance requirements, effective rules governing food safety measures, and intellectual property protections have allowed the U.S. to build a fortified trading network here in the Western Hemisphere.”
Those integrated supply chains are especially important in North America, where agricultural goods often cross borders multiple times during production and processing.
The USMCA includes a built-in review every six years, with the first set for July 1, 2026. Lawmakers say that process should strengthen, not disrupt existing trade relationships.
“As preparations begin for the upcoming joint review process, we encourage continued engagement with Congress, farmers, and ranchers to ensure the agreement is improved to support U.S. agriculture and maintain strong market access for American producers,” the senators wrote.
The letter also calls for enforcement of current rules and action to address lingering trade barriers that disadvantage U.S. producers.
For Mississippi, the issue is particularly relevant. Canada and Mexico rank among the state’s leading agricultural export markets, with total exports valued at more than $2.4 billion in recent years, according to USDA estimates cited in the senators’ release.
With dozens of senators from both parties signing on, including Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Steve Daines, who spearheaded the effort, the message to trade officials is clear: agriculture must remain front and center as USMCA enters its next phase.