Why USMCA is More Than a Trade Agreement to the Pork Industry

Without the framework of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), nearly one-third of U.S. pork exports would be in immediate jeopardy. As negotiators met in Mexico City last week, the message from the ground was clear: this agreement is bigger than trade—it is the foundation of a $2.8-Billion relationship with Mexico and a $750-Million relationship with Canada that the U.S. cannot afford to lose.

USMCA, which went into effect in July 2020, requires that the three countries meet on July 1, 2026, to review the agreement. All three countries must agree on a path forward, which could mean extending the agreement for another 16 years, terminating the agreement or entering a period of annual consultations.

Why Being ‘On the Ground’ Makes a Difference

Although agriculture wasn’t formally on the agenda, Maria Zieba, NPPC vice president of government affairs for the National Pork Producers Council, was one of the few stakeholders allowed to travel to Mexico to meet with the negotiators.

“Essentially, they were negotiating in the morning, and giving us a briefing at night,” Zieba says.

One of the most valuable opportunities for the pork industry was Zieba’s conversations with U.S. and Mexico negotiators.

“We can stress the importance of the agreement and the things that we like in USMCA,” she explains. “We can talk about things that may need tweaking, too. Having the ability to be ‘on the ground’ and answer questions as they come up is very helpful and puts us at the top of the list towards being able to ensure that we get what we need for our producers.”