Trade agreements often receive the most attention when negotiations become contentious, but for Iowa agriculture, their greatest value is often found in the stability they provide. Canada and Mexico remain Iowa’s two largest international trading partners, making the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement an important part of the state’s agricultural economy.
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said while there are issues that still need to be addressed between the three countries, the agreement continues to provide significant benefits for Iowa producers.
Naig said no trade agreement is perfect, noting that issues involving dairy, specialty crops, and other industries continue to require attention. However, he said the greatest strength of USMCA is that it establishes a rules-based framework for resolving disputes rather than allowing disagreements to linger without a clear path forward.
Mexico’s effort to restrict imports of genetically modified corn is one example. Rather than allowing the issue to escalate without recourse, the agreement provides a process for challenging policies that conflict with the science-based standards negotiated by the three countries.
Naig said maintaining that framework is critical for Iowa agriculture because Canada and Mexico consistently rank as the state’s two largest export markets. While future negotiations may update or improve the agreement, he said preserving a predictable system for resolving trade disputes helps provide the certainty farmers, livestock producers, processors, and exporters depend on to continue serving those important markets.
