U.S. lawmakers are urging the Trump Administration to wade into next year’s USMCA renegotiation with “civility,” given the angst in Canada and Mexico over the president’s tariffs.

Next year’s U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement review was once expected to be routine, but, given President Trump’s tariffs, it could become a high-stakes negotiation.

Ag-state lawmakers, smartly aware of that, are seeking respectful talks slated to start next July. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley shepherded USMCA through the Senate in 2020.

“100 members of Congress sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Greer on the importance of civility under the USMCA.”  

And they did so for a good reason.

“In the last five years, Ag exports to Mexico shot up to nearly $30 billion. Compare that $30 billion in the last five years to the $20 billion for the ten years, ’10 to ’19.”

With a similar increase to Canada, more work remains to ease dairy exports heading north. The importance of USMCA hasn’t escaped the Ag lobby.

“A group of over 120 Ag organizations signed a letter supporting a full 16-year renewal of the USMCA. Stable export markets to Canada and Mexico can allow U.S. farmers and businesses to flourish.” 

There are more than half a billion people in the North American market, representing almost 30 percent of the world economy.