Major Food and Agriculture Groups Call for Renewal of USMCA

A letter signed by 122 organizations representing the American food and agricultural value chain, including the National Corn Growers Association, filed a letter today voicing support for a full 16-year renewal of the United States- Mexico-Canada Agreement in the public consultation process for the 2026 Joint Review of the USMCA.

"The United States is the world's largest agricultural exporter, and a majority of signers consider Canada and Mexico among their top five export markets," the letter said. "Trade integration between all three countries, enhanced by former trade agreements and accelerated by the USMCA, allowed agricultural exports from the United States to soar."

The leaders from all three countries must consider whether to extend the USMCA and are required to begin the review by July 2026. If they fail to extend the agreement, it will automatically expire in 2036, and annual reviews could commence. The letter's signatories are concerned that countries could pull out during a prolonged period of debate on extending the agreement.

Trade cooperation between the three countries affords multifold benefits. USMCA has not only helped fuel the U.S. economy, but it has also facilitated and streamlined the flow of commerce throughout all three countries, the letter argued.

Since USMCA was originally signed into law by President Trump on Nov. 30, 2018, it has created efficiencies in the agricultural sector at a cost savings to American farmers, producers and ranchers. The agreement has also provided regulatory transparency among countries and ensured science-based treatment of agricultural commodities and products to the benefit of animal and plant health, which have worked well for U.S. exporters.

An example of the agreement's benefits came in 2024 when the nation's corn growers prevailed in a dispute with the Mexican government over a ban on genetically modified corn after the U.S. initiated a dispute settlement under USMCA.

Without the economic might that the trilateral agreement affords, farmer incomes would be harmed, as industry would be saddled with additional and burdensome costs related to transportation and compliance measures, the signatories noted.

The letter also argued U.S. agricultural exporters and family farms depend on the stability of USMCA to factor into their multi-year planning.

"Without the certainty guaranteed by USMCA, agribusinesses and family farms would face undependable markets and weakened global competitiveness."
Read the Letter