Newhouse: Ag From D.C. Has Some Highs, And Some Lows

It was an exciting week for U.S. Agriculture.  On Sunday, Canada announced it was entering in a trilateral trade agreement with the U.S. and Mexico.  The updated NAFTA is now known as the USMCA.  Dan Newhouse said the announcement of the trade agreement is great news for Washington producers that ship so many goods to both countries.

“I applaud the work of the U.S. Trade Representative as well as the President himself for providing the guidance to get this done to modernize this agreement.”

However, on the same day, the existing Farm Bill expired, leaving the Ag industry without a Farm Bill.  Newhouse said Congress’ inability to pass a 2018 Farm Bill is especially disappointing.

‘’Certainly the certainty that our farmers and ranchers would get from a completed Farm Bill was important to me, but there’s still some challenges standing in the way of getting that agreement between the House and the Senate and the Republican and Democratic conferences on either side.”

Newhouse said there were other reasons for farmers to be optimistic, such as an updated KORUS, trade talks with Japan, and even progress with the EU.

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