Source: NATIONAL ASSOC. OF STATE DEPTS. OF AGRICULTURE, 11/17/15

Members of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and their counterparts in Mexico and Canada today concluded a three-day agricultural trade summit as part of the 24th Annual Tri-National Agricultural Accord (Accord) in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Accord represents a longstanding commitment among the senior state and provincial agricultural officials of Canada, the United States, and Mexico to work together collaboratively on agricultural trade and development issues.

Delegates held tri- and bi-lateral discussions on a variety of issues affecting North American agriculture including the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), pollinator health, food safety, Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), organic equivalency, and more. The U.S. Delegation was led by New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte, who also serves on NASDA’s Board of Directors as Secretary-Treasurer.

The commissioners, secretaries, directors, and ministers of agriculture issued the following joint statements.

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement
Provincial and State Agriculture Officials from Mexico, Canada, and the United States commend the federal governments of our respective countries for the successful conclusion of negotiations on the TPP agreement.  The TPP agreement holds tremendous promise for greater liberalization of trade and integration, enabling long-term gains across the region. We encourage cooperation on efforts to build awareness and understanding among North American agriculture stakeholders of the impacts and opportunities resulting from the TPP.  We commit to continued cooperation as the agreement proceeds through ratification in national legislatures.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
Delegates from Mexico, Canada, and the United States recognize the significant negative impacts the recent HPAI outbreak has had on poultry producers across North America.  We agree to enhance trilateral collaboration on enhanced biosecurity practices, improve early detection and surveillance activities, and to work collaboratively to mitigate the impacts of future animal disease incidents. Delegates also support the establishment of joint zoning initiatives in advance of disease outbreaks to control highly contagious animal disease outbreaks while maintaining trade in animal and animal products. We will work together to facilitate these activities through cross-border communication and sharing information on best practices and lessons-learned to mitigate the impact future HPAI incidents or other emerging disease issues may have on North American producers.

Food Safety
Delegates from the United States, Canada and Mexico recognize the important role food safety plays in trade between the three nations. We agree to continue to cooperate as implementation of new food safety requirements proceeds and to look for additional opportunities for collaboration. In particular, we emphasize the important role of the Tri-National Accord to facilitate efforts to harmonize food safety requirements in North America, and the value that may have in facilitating the development of a potential global model.

The Tri-National Agricultural Accord is hosted by one of the three countries each year. In the United States, the Accord is hosted through the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). The 25th Anniversary Tri-National Agricultural Accord will be held in Canada in 2016.

NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all fifty states and four U.S. territories. NASDA grows and enhances agriculture by forging partnerships and creating consensus to achieve sound policy outcomes between state departments of agriculture, the federal government, and stakeholders.