While Not Perfect, USMCA Is Good For Ag, Idaho Senator Notes

Renewal of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement won strong bipartisan support at a Senate Finance hearing last week as the trade deal that replaced NAFTA comes up for its six-year review this year.  Finance Chair, Idaho’s Mike Crapo conceded USMCA isn't perfect, but added that it’s been a boon to industry and agriculture, and should be extended.

“USMCA propelled the United States to export $60 billion in agricultural goods to Canada and Mexico, which represents one-third of all US agriculture exports,” Crapo said last week.

But Crapo added greater enforcement is needed in some areas, specifically when it comes to ag biotech, dairy.

Speaking of dairy, Idaho dairy producer with the Northwest Dairy Association Ted Vander Schaff accused Canada of restricting quota access to its market.

“…by reserving the vast majority of quota volumes for domestic processors who lack incentives to import," Vander Schaff said.  "Meanwhile, distributors get minimal amounts of quota, while retailers, restaurants and food service operators are excluded entirely.”

Vander Schaff added Mexico, U.S. dairy’s biggest customer and under pressure from the EU, hasn’t fully protected common cheese names like Parmesan and Feta for U.S. use.

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