National Association of Wheat Growers/U.S. Wheat Associates
Contact:
Steve Mercer, Vice President of Communications, U.S. Wheat Associates
smercer@uswheat.org, (703) 650-0251
Caitlin Eanello, Director of Communications, National Association of Wheat Growers
ceanello@wheatworld.org, (202) 547-7800
Today, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) extend thanks to President Trump for signing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) into law, making it an official trade agreement.
“USMCA will bring some guarantee to the unpredictable climate of farming,” said National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) President and Lavon, Tex., farmer Ben Scholz. “Trade deals create markets which provide stability for growers, making the profession more attractive to future generations. NAWG would like to thank the Administration again for working to get this agreement finalized.”
“Wheat farmers and Mexico’s wheat buyers are very glad to see the cloud of uncertainty lifted from our trade relationship,” said U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Chairman and Paulding, Ohio, wheat farmer Doug Goyings. “Replacing NAFTA without harm to the wheat trade relationship was a priority for all of us – mission accomplished.”
USMCA retains tariff-free access to imported U.S. wheat for those long-time flour milling customers in Mexico, a crucial step toward rebuilding trust in the U.S. as a reliable supplier in this important, neighboring market. In addition, the USMCA makes important progress towards more open commerce for U.S. wheat farmers near the Canadian border by allowing U.S. varieties registered in Canada to receive reciprocal grading treatment.
Other measures that benefit the wheat industry include the Agreement’s language around agricultural biotechnology which supports 21st Century innovations in agriculture and new language to strengthen disciplines for science-based SPS measures.
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