Canadian Agri-food Group Aligns with U.S. Ag Coalition on USMCA

The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance Executive Director says the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement has benefited farmers on both sides of the border.

Michael Harvey says he supports the work of the U.S. Agricultural Coalition for USMCA to ensure an agreement stays in place.

“What they want is to just renew the agreement for 16 years as the treaty allows and not really make any changes,” he says. “I’d say from the Canadian perspective, we would be totally fine with that approach to renewing the agreement.”

He says reopening of the USMCA could put Mexico’s acceptance of biotech crops at risk.

“Canada doesn’t really export corn to Mexico, but some of our members were very concerned, particularly for canola, because of the precedent that it could set just as a decision that wasn’t based on science,” he says.

Harvey says the U.S. sells $722 worth of agri-food products per Canadian, compared to Canada selling $118 per American, and the agreement helps lower input costs for American farmers.

Canada’s chief negotiator has recently said there’s no need to revisit the fundamentals of the agreement during the upcoming review.

EDITOR’S TAKE:

It is not too surprising that this Canadian group would simply like to reauthorize the USMCA versus renegotiating the agreement. There are still several issues that favor Canadians, including dairy issues. U.S. negotiators have voiced their preference for “tweaking” the treaty and improving the American position on trade involving aluminum, steel and agriculture. It will be interesting to watch the developments around this agreement as the July deadline approaches.

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