Statement
United States – Mexico Bilateral Work Group Joint Statement
State agricultural leaders from Mexico and the United States of America met for the 35th Annual Tri-National Agricultural Accord to promote cooperation, coordination and seek new opportunities to strengthen the power of the North American trade bloc in the face of growing competition from around the globe. Delegates discussed challenges at home and abroad, and how state agricultural leaders, working in tandem with our federal partners and industry can turn challenges into opportunities.
Numerous issues were addressed by delegates in their discussions including their unanimous support for continuation of the USMCA/T-MEC agreement; promoting science and evidence-based trade standards for food and agriculture; State, federal, and industry preparedness for animal and plant health
emergencies; and developing a capable and sustainable workforce to meet the needs of the food and agricultural sectors.
Delegates repeated their unanimous call for federal partners to resolve issues of concern and elect to continue the USMCA/T-MEC agreement for 16 years to maintain the significant benefits the Agreement has delivered to agricultural communities across the continent. Delegates encouraged federal partners to engage states and provinces in all CUSMA/USMCA Review processes.
Delegates renewed their call for federal partners to resume meetings of the Consultative Committees on Agriculture which serve as a structured forum for addressing opportunities and challenges in bilateral trading relationships, as well as the designated entity to consult with state and provincial agricultural
leaders and report back to the USMCA Committee on Agricultural Trade.
Questions were raised about who benefits from tariff and non-tariff barriers targeting the agriculture sector. Integration of the North American market resulting from free trade, regulatory cooperation, and harmonization has helped American and Mexican producers be more efficient, enable processors to operate at full capacity, and keep costs low for consumers.
Delegates reiterated the importance of coordinated efforts to protect animal and plant health and enhance preparedness for emerging threats. Delegates call on federal partners to conduct periodic table top exercises testing and improving North American preparedness for agricultural pests and diseases.
Delegates recognize that farmers and ranchers need a reliable, skilled workforce. Farm work is challenging, often seasonal and transitory, and with fewer people growing up on the farm, it’s increasingly difficult to find workers attracted to working in agriculture and availability of capital to ensure viability of beginning farms. Delegates remain steadfast in their belief that investing in people and workforce development systems now and for future generations, we can make the path to agriculture employment straightforward for our producers and a promising choice for workers.
Delegates approved a bilateral work plan which represents the advice and council of state agricultural leaders to our respective federal partners.
