For Immediate Release
Contact:    Caitlin Eannello, NAWG Director of Communications, 240-423-4345 (Cell)

 Washington, D.C. (June 13, 2019) – Nearly 1,000 groups representing the U.S. food and agriculture value chain at the national, state and local levels have called on Congress to support the ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In a letter sent to Congress, the groups reiterate that USMCA will benefit the U.S. agriculture and food industry while providing consumers a more abundant supply of high-quality, safe food at affordable prices.

“Prior to the NAFTA, state intervention and import tariffs kept U.S. wheat exports to the Mexican market very low,” stated NAWG President and Lavon, TX Farmer Ben Scholz. “When NAFTA was implemented, tariffs on U.S. wheat went to zero, allowing the market to grow expeditiously. Now, Mexico consistently serves as the second largest market for U.S. wheat exports.”

Over the last 25 years, U.S. food and agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico have more than quadrupled under NAFTA – growing from $9 billion in 1993 to nearly $40 billion in 2018. USMCA builds on the success of the NAFTA agreement while making improvements to further enhance U.S. food and agricultural exports to our neighbors.

“NAWG commends the Senate and House Agriculture Committees for holding hearings on USMCA and ag trade this week,” continued Scholz. “NAWG submitted testimony for the record to both hearings and hope that Congress will maintain this momentum and ratify the Agreement.”

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 21 state wheat grower organizations to benefit the wheat industry at the national levels. From their offices in the Wheat Growers Building 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.