A group of U.S. Senators is urging the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to prioritize stability, enforcement, and collaboration as preparations begin for the upcoming six-year joint review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In a letter sent this week, lawmakers emphasized the importance of working closely with Congress, farmers, and ranchers to ensure the review process strengthens the agreement and reinforces certainty across the agricultural sector. The Senators also called for full enforcement of existing provisions, along with efforts to eliminate unfair trade practices and resolve ongoing barriers that disadvantage American producers.
Led by U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), the letter highlights the significant benefits USMCA has delivered since its implementation, noting that U.S. agricultural exports reached $176 billion in 2024, with Canada and Mexico serving as the top two markets for many states. Lawmakers underscored that the agreement has supported strong export growth, particularly for bulk commodities such as wheat, corn, and oilseeds, while helping maintain a favorable trade balance. They also pointed to the role of streamlined regulations, science-based standards, and integrated supply chains in enhancing the competitiveness and resilience of U.S. agriculture, adding that continued certainty under USMCA is critical to the success of American farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
Ag groups voiced their support for the letter and USMCA including National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) President Jamie Kress.
“USMCA is essential for U.S. wheat farmers. It keeps key markets open, ensures fair treatment, and gives producers the stability we need to stay competitive. Mexico continues to be the largest buyer of U.S. wheat, highlighting just how important this agreement is to our industry. NAWG thanks Senators Klobuchar, Boozman, and Daines for leading this effort and for continuing to highlight how critical USMCA is for farmers and rural America,” said Kress.
Bryan Goodman, spokesperson for the Agricultural Coalition for USMCA also praised the move.
“We are greatly appreciative of our allies in the Senate for supporting the renewal of USMCA, which is vital to the U.S. economy and an important economic engine for rural America. Renewing the agreement builds on the president’s success, and we encourage its extension due to the vast benefits to U.S. agriculture,” said Goodman.
Below is the full letter.
Since its adoption, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has generated numerous benefits for the U.S. food and agriculture sector. We recognize the value of the Agreement’s six-year joint review process to ensure proper oversight, implementation, and enforcement, and we urge you to work closely with Congress and producers to ensure that this process strengthens the Agreement and reinforces certainty for U.S. agriculture. We support efforts to fully enforce the existing terms of the Agreement, curb unfair practices, and address outstanding trade barriers that disadvantage American agriculture.
The United States is currently the world’s largest agricultural exporter, with total agricultural exports valued at $176 billion in 2024. Since the Agreement’s entry-into-force, U.S. agricultural exports have increased substantially, particularly to Canada and Mexico. For many states, Canada and Mexico represent the largest and second-largest export markets. The market access achieved under USMCA is a critical component of the success of American agriculture and contributes to our secure food supply chain and to the global competitiveness of U.S. producers. Bulk commodities, like wheat, corn, and oilseeds, maintain a strong trade surplus with Canada and Mexico. Farmers, ranchers, processors, and exporters throughout the supply chain have been broadly supportive of USMCA and the certainty it provides.
American family farmers and ranchers depend on the certainty afforded by a stable Agreement. The integrated supply chains facilitated by streamlined compliance requirements, effective rules governing food safety measures, and intellectual property protections have allowed the U.S. to build a fortified trading network here in the Western Hemisphere. Our close proximity to dependable markets based on rules-based, science-driven commitments from our trading partners is critical for domestic producers.
As preparations begin for the upcoming joint review process, we encourage continued engagement with Congress, farmers, and ranchers to ensure the agreement is improved to support U.S. agriculture and maintain strong market access for American producers. We look forward to working with you to ensure that the joint review process reinforces, rather than undermines, the stability and opportunity that USMCA delivers to America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
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Senator Daines Office – 2026
