North American agriculture officials gather to strengthen international trade and food security across the globe

Press Release

ARLINGTON, Va. — Members of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and their provincial counterparts from Canada issued a joint communiqué today underscoring the role of states and provinces in protecting food security and improving the competitiveness of North American trade during the 33^rd annual Tri-National Agricultural Accord. NASDA President, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward hosted the conference for the United States.

“By collaborating as a North American trade alliance, we increase food security for our entire continent and uplift rural communities. We will take action from our discussions this week to better foster trade and engineer solutions to challenges farmers and ranchers face in each of our countries.” Ward said.

Delegates recognized the benefits of USMCA to enhance North American trade in agricultural products and emphasized the importance of the agreement’s 2026 review to further promote free trade across North America. Delegates highlighted the importance of agricultural outreach programs and encourage jurisdictions to seek opportunities for cross-border collaboration to leverage resources to better reach rural, indigenous and minority communities. Delegates called on their respective federal partners to organize periodic table-top exercises with active involvement of state and provincial agricultural leaders to ensure continuity, communication, and consistency in our response to foreign animal diseases.

In addition to the joint communiqué, a statement from tri-lateral meetings and statement from the U.S.-Canada bilateral meeting were published at the accord. The Tri-National Agricultural Accord is the primary opportunity for senior state and provincial agricultural officials of the United States, Canada and Mexico to work together on agricultural trade and development issues. The accord represents a longstanding commitment to collaboration on trade between the three countries, and the current meeting arrangement dates back to 1992. Mexico will host the 34^th Tri-National Agricultural Accord in 2025.

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NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories. NASDA enhances American food and agricultural communities through policy, partnerships and public engagement. To learn more about NASDA, please visit www.nasda.org.