Agricultural organizations are closely watching as the United States, Mexico and Canada begin the first joint review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a process that could shape the future of North American agricultural trade.
The review comes after the Trump administration chose not to renew the agreement in its current form, instead launching the formal review process. Under the terms of the trade pact, that decision starts a 10-year countdown before the agreement would expire unless the three countries reach a new consensus.
U.S. dairy leaders say maintaining strong trade relationships with America's northern and southern neighbors remains essential.
"Getting USMCA right matters enormously to our industry, which ships more than 40 percent of all U.S. dairy exports by value to Canada and Mexico," said Shawna Morris, vice president of the U.S. Dairy Export Council.
Canada and Mexico are also critical markets for U.S. pork producers. The National Pork Producers Council said it had hoped for an immediate renewal of the agreement but welcomed the administration's commitment to continued negotiations.
"While we would have liked to see immediate renewal, pork producers appreciate Ambassador Greer's commitment to staying at the negotiating table with Mexico and Canada," the organization said in a statement.
The Trump administration has said it wants to use the review process to strengthen the agreement, encourage more manufacturing to return to the United States and address trade imbalances, including agricultural trade deficits with North American partners.
Negotiations among the three countries are expected to continue over the coming years as officials work toward an updated version of the trade agreement before the current pact reaches its expiration deadline.