States pledge support for implementation and enforcement of USMCA

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) CEO Dr. Barb Glenn issued the following statement today after U.S. President Donald Trump signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

“Today’s signing of the USMCA further underscores our allied trading relationship with Canada and Mexico. The USMCA will serve as the roadmap for the next chapter in our trading relationship. For food, ag, and forestry, USMCA maintains minimal tariffs and science-based trade standards. These are important values that help U.S. exports flourish, and for the North American trading bloc to expand globally. “

The USMCA provides ample new opportunities for state-level engagement on trade promotion, technical assistance, data collection, and monitoring. It also makes important changes to the agricultural governance framework that guides state consultation processes under the agreement.

“NASDA Members and our state and provincial counterparts in Canada in Mexico stand ready to support full implementation of the USMCA and are eager to participate in the enhanced governance process. We appreciate the tireless work of the President, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in getting us to this point.”

NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which representants the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories. NASDA grows and enhances agriculture by forging partnerships and creating consensus to achieve sound policy outcomes between state departments of agriculture, the federal government and stakeholders.