President Donald Trump signed the United States ? Mexico ? Canada Agreement on Wednesday Morning in the White House. This means that only Canada is left to ratify the trade agreement. While agriculture did not see a lot of changes from the former North American Free Trade Agreement, they are excited to see the stability returning to our trade relationship with our neighbors.
The pork industry was one of the agriculture sectors that felt the effects of the trade disputes with our neighbors. Tariffs and retaliatory tariffs flew across the border before the deal was finally negotiated. Delays in the passage through the U.S. Congress delayed what many hoped would be a quick solution.
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) was one of many Ag groups that worked behind the scenes to help keep the foot on the gas on negotiations and passage of the agreement. NPPC board member Dale Reicks is an Iowa producer. He talks about the importance of getting trade back to where we were on the agricultural side of things.
When you look at the numbers of pork exports to Canada and Mexico, you can see why getting the deal back on track was so important to the industry. Reicks runs down the impact Mexico and Canada have on our pork trade.
Reicks complimented the NPPC Washington staff on helping navigate murky waters when agriculture was an easy target.
