American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall is hopes the United States and Canada return to the negotiating table after trade talks broke down and additional tariffs were imposed.
Duvall says Canada has been one of U.S. agriculture’s most important trading partners since the first free trade agreement between the two countries in 1989.
He warns that further tariff increases and Canadian retaliation could hurt farmers and ranchers already dealing with difficult economic conditions.
“Our strong agreements with Canada and Mexico have eliminated nearly all tariffs for U.S. agriculture, allowing the majority of our farm products to enter those markets duty- and quota-free,” Duvall said.
He emphasizes that agricultural exports are critical to farm profitability and generate economic activity beyond the farm gate.
Duvall calls for de-escalation of the trade dispute and renewal of the USMCA while maintaining duty-free market access for U.S. agricultural products.
