Portland, OR – The Oregon Wheat Commission and the Oregon Wheat Growers League applaud the U.S. Senate for passing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) yesterday. The strong bipartisan 89-10 Senate vote to approve USMCA is a testament to the good work done by President Trump, the US Trade Representative, members of Congress, Canada and Mexico to negotiate the agreement.
Oregon Wheat CEO, Blake Rowe, noted that “trade deals like this should help the price of wheat for growers in Oregon and across the country. We think this agreement sets a pattern for future trade agreements and sends a signal that the U.S. can get trade agreements completed and approved in a timely manner.”
“Mexico continues to be our top overall export market for U.S. wheat,” said USW Vice Chairman and Grass Valley farmer Darren Padget. “it is great to see the uncertainty caused by the process to negotiate USMCA come to an end.”
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.