For Immediate Release: July 1, 2020
Contact:
Steve Mercer, Vice President of Communications, U.S. Wheat Associates
smercer@uswheat.org, (703) 650-0251
Caitlin Eannello, Director of Communications, National Association of Wheat Growers
ceannello@wheatworld.org, (202) 547-7800
U.S. Wheat Organizations Welcome USMCA Entry into Force
Washington, D.C. – The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is set to cross its final hurdle to entry today as the three countries certify the agreement’s “entry into force.” This final step means that all required legislative and regulatory changes needed to implement the agreement have been put into place or are scheduled to take effect.
“A completed USMCA finally gets us past the uncertainty and that is welcome news to U.S. wheat growers,” said U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) Chairman and Paulding, Ohio, wheat farmer Doug Goyings. “Especially as we now see an opportunity for U.S. negotiators to take this as a gold standard agreement and launch negotiations with other countries, where U.S. wheat growers face tariff and non-tariff barriers.”
“After years of hard work, we are excited to see USMCA be put into action. USMCA is not only vital for farmers but essential to help grow the rural economy,” stated NAWG President and Cass City, Mich., farmer Dave Milligan. “The wheat industry thanks Congress and the Administration for helping to put this trade deal into effect.”
While there will be little direct change for U.S. wheat exports headed to Mexico, the agreement’s entry into force is a prime example of no news being an indicator of good news. The new agreement tightens coordination over sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules and other non-tariff trade issues, but most importantly it places certainty back in the trading relationship with USW’s largest export market. In the marketing year 2019/20, which ended May 31, 2020, Mexico purchased more than 3.87 million metric tons (MMT) of U.S. wheat valued at $881 million.
On the other side of the continent, Canada published the new rules for U.S. farmers hoping to deliver wheat into the Canadian grain handling system. Those new rules, allowing U.S. grown wheat brought across the border to Canadian grain elevators to be graded on a level playing field, are a significant step in furthering equal trade between the countries’ wheat growers. U.S. farmers wishing to take advantage of this new provision will need to grow wheat varieties registered in Canada’s Variety Registration System.
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About U.S. Wheat Associates
USW’s mission is to “develop, maintain, and expand international markets to enhance wheat’s profitability for U.S. wheat producers and its value for their customers.” USW activities in more than 100 countries are made possible through producer checkoff dollars managed by 17 state wheat commissions and cost-share funding provided by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. For more information, visit our website at www.uswheat.org.
About NAWG
NAWG is the primary policy representative in Washington D.C. for wheat growers, working to ensure a better future for America’s growers, the industry and the general public. NAWG works with a team of 20 state wheat grower organizations to benefit the wheat industry at the national levels. From their offices on Capitol Hill, NAWG’s staff members are in constant contact with state association representatives, NAWG grower leaders, Members of Congress, Congressional staff members, Administration officials and the public.