Ag Groups Want NAFTA Gains Preserved

According to the Hagstrom Report 133 food and agriculture industry groups sent a letter to President Trump this week urging him to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement, while “preserving and building on the gains that have been made.”

The letter was released by the Corn Refiners Association, whose high-fructose corn syrup is a major export to Mexico.  The letter notes that U.S. food and agricultural exports have produced a trade surplus for nearly 50 years.

The letter said, “Consistent growth over that period of time has resulted in over $150 billion dollars’ worth of exports, which created $423 billion in U.S. economic activity in 2015.”

The groups noted that the market integration NAFTA has achieved has quadrupled the value of U.S. food and Ag exports to Canada and Mexico.  The groups said in the letter that there are a few economic sectors that need to be addressed in the agreement and they look forward to working with the new president to reduce non-tariff trade barriers that inhibit American exports abroad.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com