Source: MEATINGPLACE, 1/25/17

More than 130 agricultural trade groups and companies have sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking him to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in a way that expands on gains it helped the sector achieve.

Among those signing the letter are Cargill Inc., JBS USA, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), National Turkey Federation, North American Meat Institute (NAMI), Smithfield Foods, Tyson Foods Inc. and the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

The letter notes that North American intraregional food and agricultural trade is now largely free of tariff and quota restrictions.
“Although some important gaps in U.S. export access still remain, increased market access under NAFTA has been a windfall for U.S. farmers, ranchers and food processors,” the letter states.

U.S. food and agriculture exports to Mexico and Canada have more than quadrupled under NAFTA, growing from $8.9 billion in 1993 to $38.6 billion in 2015, according to the letter.

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