As the negotiations for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are taking place and the joint review deadline is fast approaching, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has been advocating for its renewal.
During the World Pork Expo, held June 3 in Des Moines, Iowa, NPPC vice president of government affairs Maria Zieba said, "The importance of USMCA cannot be understated."
Zieba said in 2025, the U.S. exported more than $2.8 billion worth of pork to Mexico and more than $750 million to Canada, so for that reason alone, it is important to keep the trade agreement in place.
USMCA would give U.S. pork “preferential market access,” meaning zero tariffs into both countries, she said.
Maria ZiebaRoy Graber
“But it also has helped with the integration of our supply chains and making sure that we can be very competitive in a global market,” Zieba said.
Also of benefit to all three countries’ pork industries is that USMCA facilitates a collaborative relationship between the three countries concerning animal health issues.
Earlier in the week, Zieba said, NPPC joined more than 500 groups in signing a letter in support of USMCA.
NPPC has a seat at the table
Zieba said during the previous week, she was in Mexico City for the first round of negotiations between the United States and Mexico, “and those were very insightful conversations.”
While there, she met with not only the U.S. negotiators and the members of the United States Congress who were there, but also members of the Mexican business community and Mexican negotiators.
“We all got to know each other very well, and we know where we stand. Ultimately, USTR (the United States Trade Representative) knows that we like the agreement and that we are seeking to have very minimal changes, if none at all, and would love to have a full review competed as quickly as possible,” she said.
She said it is important to have the review quickly completed because there is currently a lot of market uncertainty, and if USMCA is approved for the recommended 16 years, there would be some needed stability.
