The United States ? Mexico ? Canada Agreement (USMCA) has a future date with the U.S. House of Representatives. A little over a week ago, we were assured House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would bring the trade pact to the House floor soon. On Thursday afternoon, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue was joined by three other former Ag Secretaries to help push the bill forward.
All Ag Secretaries going back to the Reagan Administration have signed a letter urging Congress to get USMCA moving forward. Current Secretary Sonny Perdue says this shows the need for strong trade deals knows no party lines.
Former Obama Administration Ag Secretary and former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack talked about the impact trade has on agriculture. Thirty percent of Ag goods produced in the U.S. end up overseas.
Clinton-era Ag Secretary Dan Glickman says in a time where farmers are facing great anxiety and uncertainty from trade, getting this deal done can go a long way to helping relieve some of that stress. Glickman said, ?if we can?t get a deal done with our neighbors, we can?t get a deal done with anyone.?
John Block was Ag Secretary in the Reagan Administration. He says we need to get the momentum started on trade deals.
The letter was also signed by former Ag Secretaries Mike Espy (Clinton), Ann Veneman (W. Bush), Mike Johanns (W. Bush), and Ed Shafer (W. Bush)
The trade pact was agreed to in November of 2018 and has been ratified by Mexico. Canada has said they will ratify the deal once the U.S. does. However, Canada will be holding a national election in October. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing backlash for his handling of the USMCA agreement.
At the end of the press conference, Secretary John Block summed up the feelings of farmers and ranchers across the country.
