Wisconsin Corn Emphasizes Importance of USMCA Renewal

Watertown, Wis. [July 2, 2026] -The U.S. Trade Representative released a statement yesterday saying officials from the United States, Mexico and Canada met to review the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and that the United States did not agree to renew the agreement in its current form. The agreement will remain in force as negotiations continue.

July 1 was the deadline for all three countries to indicate the path forward on USMCA. If no agreement is reached, officials from all three countries will be required to discuss the agreement each year until it automatically expires in 2036.

In response to this trade development, Paul Jarvis, Wautoma corn grower and Wisconsin Corn Growers Association president, released the following statement:

"For Wisconsin corn farmers, reliable access to export markets is essential to our success, and USMCA provides the certainty our producers, customers, and rural communities depend on with $1.7 billion in agricultural exports tied to the agreement in Wisconsin alone.

"Mexico is the country's largest export market for corn, while Canada is our largest ethanol market. Because of this, USMCA is the single most important trade agreement to the corn industry."

Wisconsin Corn serves the state's corn growers through the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board (WCPB) and Wisconsin Corn Growers Association (WCGA). The WCPB utilizes checkoff funds to develop and defend markets, fund research and provide education about corn and corn products. WCGA is a united, grassroots-driven member organization representing growers from across Wisconsin on important state and national agricultural issues in an effort to increase member profitability and opportunity. For more information, visit wicorn.org.

###