Ag groups push for USMCA

Several hundred agriculture groups, including many representing the fresh produce industry, sent Congress leaders a letter urging ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

“Mexico and Canada are top export markets for apples, totaling nearly a half-billion dollars in annual sales,” said USApple President & CEO Jim Bair, in a statement. Bair is a member of a steering committee of CEOs leading the grassroots efforts in support of the USMCA.

“The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is good for apples as it maintains duty-free access and other important provisions from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), including dispute resolution. Apples were a big winner under NAFTA, which quadrupled exports to Mexico and doubled those to Canada. Maintaining these trading partnerships under the USMCA is critical to the health of the apple industry.”

“Free trade in the North American market brought billions of dollars in sales to apple growers. It’s not an overstatement to say our vitality depends on continued free trade so we’re calling on Congress to ratify the USMCA as quickly as possible.”

19-June 11 USMCA Grassroots Letter