TFB statement on Trump signing USMCA
The following statement may be attributed to Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening following his attendance at today’s White House signing ceremony of legislation authorizing the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement.
“Today’s signature by President Trump of legislation authorizing the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is cause for celebration. USMCA represents a tremendous opportunity for Texas farmers and ranchers to increase sales to customers in two very important foreign markets and to take another important step toward the economic recovery of Texas agriculture.
“We look forward to the Canadian Parliament’s approval of the agreement so that it can go into full effect. USMCA is a strong, modern agreement that provides a framework for other agricultural trade deals. The prior North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was beneficial to Texas farmers and ranchers and to our overall Texas economy. USMCA not only protects agriculture’s gains from NAFTA, the new agreement is expected to significantly increase U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico. Those trade opportunities could not come at a better time for Texas agriculture.
“USMCA provides new market access for American dairy and poultry products while preserving the zero-tariff platform on all other agricultural products. Additional provisions enhance science-based trading standards among the three nations as the basis for sanitary and phytosanitary measures for agricultural products, as well as progress in the area of geographic indications.
“Texas Farm Bureau thanks President Trump for the generous invitation to attend the White House signing ceremony. It was a tremendous honor to witness the historic occasion. We thank the Trump administration for its hard work on this important trade agreement. We appreciate the support of the entire Texas congressional delegation in their approval of USMCA.”