WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement by a bipartisan vote of 385-41.
“I’ve long said that support for USMCA crosses political parties, the bipartisan passage of the agreement Thursday is proof of that,” Secretary Perdue said. “I am pleased the House finally brought this agreement to a vote and encourage quick passage in the Senate. President Trump delivered on his promise to replace NAFTA and USMCA is a huge success for America’s farmers and ranchers. This agreement will unleash the bounty of America’s agricultural harvest to two of our largest trading partners in the world and it is critical to the success of rural America.”
WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) Thursday voted in support of the United States Mexico Canada Agreement when it came to the House floor for a vote. Following passage of the trade agreement Johnson issued the following statement:
“For over a year the administration and members of Congress have been laser focused on passing the USMCA,” said Johnson. “I was proud to vote in support of a 21st century trade agreement, which will grow our economy by $68 billion dollars and add 176,000 new jobs. This is the shot in the arm our country needs. Congratulations to America, this is a great deal.”
SOUTH DAKOTA- Governor Kristi Noem Thursday released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement:
“The USMCA is chock-full of wins for South Dakota, and I’m thrilled that the House finally passed the agreement. Ninety-five percent of the world’s consumers live outside our borders, and this agreement sets a framework where farmers and ranchers can thrive.
Through the USMCA, Canada’s unfair milk pricing will be eliminated so South Dakota dairy farmers gain more export opportunities. Poultry producers will have new access for chicken and egg exports and expanded access for turkey exports. Small businesses will benefit from new rules that make it easier to tap into foreign markets and participate in cross-border trade. There are big wins for the auto industry and new standards to improve wages and labor conditions.
I was proud to help negotiate this agreement when I served in Congress, and I’m grateful for the strong support it has received from Representative Johnson, Senator Thune, and Senator Rounds. South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers produce the world’s best products, and this agreement will allow those goods to be sold in a marketplace that is fair, open, and competitive.”
WASHINGTON, DC- House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson and House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Chairman Jim Costa released the following statement Thursday following the passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in the House:
“We are encouraged by the House’s strong bipartisan vote of 385-41 to approve USMCA. This is good news for farmers and ranchers, and we urge our Senate colleagues to take up the matter as soon as possible.”
UNDATED- The Renewable Fuels Association Thursday lauded a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives approving the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement , a crucial trade pact that will benefit U.S. ethanol producers and rural economies across the nation. New fact sheets released Thursday by RFA highlight the significance of the Canadian and Mexican export markets to U.S. ethanol producers. RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper offered the following statement:
“America’s ethanol producers are encouraged by the approval of USMCA in the House, and we urge the Senate to act swiftly to ratify the agreement. Canada and Mexico are among our most important and reliable export markets for both ethanol and distillers grains, and we look forward to strengthening our trading relationship with the two countries. USMCA is a good deal for the U.S. ethanol industry, the farmers who support us, and our industry’s partners in Canada and Mexico.”
BILLINGS, MT- R-CALF USA, the nation’s largest producer-only cattle trade association that lobbies on behalf of America’s cattle farmers and ranchers issued the following statement on Thursday’s passage of the United States Mexico Canada Agreement in the U.S. House of Representatives. The USMCA, same as its predecessor the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), does not require beef derived from Mexican or Canadian cattle to bear a label of origin at retail sale in our domestic marketplace.
“We are extremely disappointed but not at all surprised that it is business as usual in the House of Representatives. They continue to support the financial self-interests of multinational corporations while harming American consumers and independent cattle producers.
“But it isn’t over yet, we will now shift our focus on the Senate and meanwhile, we know that our efforts have significantly elevated the awareness that mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) for beef must be restored and we will not rest until it is.
“The longer Congress and the president stall to reinstate mandatory COOL for beef more and more of America’s largest segment of agriculture, the U.S. cattle industry along with economic opportunities for independent cattle producers, will be transferred to other countries; thus depriving rural America of its economic benefits.
SOUTH DAKOTA- The South Dakota Corn Growers Association commended the U.S. House for approving the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Canada and Mexico are South Dakota’s two largest export markets. Nationally, Mexico is the United States’ No. 1 foreign corn buyer and Canada is No. 5. Canada is also the No. 2 buyer of U.S. ethanol and Mexico is a growing market with high potential.
“A vote on USMCA has been a long time coming, but we’re very pleased the House has passed this significant trade agreement. Canada and Mexico are vital trade partners for our state and our nation,” South Dakota Corn Growers President Doug Noem said. “We thank Rep. Dusty Johnson for his strong support and we look forward to passage in the U.S. Senate next month. This is a great example of what can be accomplished with broad support, cooperation, hard work and bipartisanship. This gives us a level playing field.”
Fifteen months have passed since the three nations reached an initial agreement. The SDCGA was one of the supporting groups that pushed hard for USMCA passage, working with the National Corn Growers Association, other state corn associations, ethanol groups and members of Congress. The efforts included a grassroots campaign by farmers who emailed and phoned their elected officials and the White House.
Noem said this agreement will provide farmers with certainty that they can continue selling their products to the United States’ two largest agricultural export markets – vitally important at a time when the agricultural economy has slumped.