Nebraska Corn’s statement on a trilateral trade agreement with Canada and Mexico

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Corn Board applauds the work of President Trump’s administration in reaching a deal that will enhance the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Mexico and Canada have been major customers of U.S. agricultural products in the past, and maintaining this market access was crucial for Nebraska Corn during NAFTA renegotiations.

The agreement, which is being referred to as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), is to be published today in order for the governments from the U.S., Mexico and Canada to review and ratify by the end of November. In the U.S., the agreement must go through a 60-day review process before President Trump can sign the agreement.

“Since discussions of a NAFTA withdrawal surfaced more than a year ago, we’ve been working hard to remind the president, our congressional leaders, farmers and the general public how important Canada and Mexico are for ag trade,” said David Bruntz, chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board and farmer from Friend. “We still have a little way to go with final approvals, but this is definitely a step in the right direction and we appreciate the work our administration has done to meet the NAFTA withdrawal deadline.”

“Our message has always been to ‘do no harm to agriculture’ in trade renegotiation talks,” said Dan Wesely, president of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association and farmer from Morse Bluff. “Canada and Mexico buyers purchase more than 27 percent of Nebraska’s corn exports, nearly 32 percent of Nebraska’s ethanol exports and almost 22 percent of our state’s beef exports. By having a fair and open deal with our neighbors to the north and south, we can ensure markets for Nebraska producers, corn and value-added products for a long time.”