Biotech could be Big Part of NAFTA Renegotiations

NAFTA renegotiations will begin in August, and the House Ag Committee is hearing from producers and commodity groups about what they want to see.

Thomas Hammer from the National Oilseeds Processor Association said there is one big part missing from NAFTA currently.

“We need to put biotech agreements in our trade agreements. We wouldn’t even have contemplated this in 1993. One of the areas where modernization is so necessary.”

Hammer said that’s the biggest priority for his organization.

Floyd Gaibler with the U.S. Grains Council said they are looking for what he calls, “foundational language.”

“If a country has already adopted the proposal, the other countries looking to approve it could say, ‘We’ll review that documentation. If it meets our scientific rigor, we’ll do that rather than repeating the whole process.’”