Tariffs Remain Under USMCA, Concerning The Ag Industry

The leaders of U.S., Mexico and Canada, have signed the USMCA, but the updated trade deal still needs to be ratified by the legislatures of the three nations.  Also, concerning some in the Ag industry, is the fact that USMCA does not deal with U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum, and the counter-tariffs on U-S agriculture products.

"The Secretary, in particular, is working on that,” said USDA Undersecretary Ted McKinney.  “We know the White House is. There is no doubt we'd like to see these steel and aluminum tariffs come off, and therefore, the counter-tariffs against our industry come off."

There are reports that trade officials are offering to maybe replace tariffs with some sort of import quota system.

"We have not been a part of that because the allocation and the quota would not be on ag products, it's more steel and aluminum. And that's left to Commerce and USTR and others. But yes, we hear and read that is perhaps one of the ideas on how to bring these counter-tariffs down or get them off."

Meanwhile, the USDA has a major Ag trade mission scheduled for Mexico in early November of next year.

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