Tallahassee Democrat 

USMCA is good for Florida’s farmers

By Sonny Perdue

June 13, 2019

For weeks there have been false reports swirling that United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement — known as USMCA — does more harm than good to Florida’s farmers, but I’m here to set the record straight. President Trump has won a better deal for agriculture in USMCA and Congress needs to approve the deal as quickly as possible.

Like any negotiation, we were hopeful we could get additional concessions through the new agreement, but we can definitively say this deal was not a step backward. USMCA improves virtually every component of the old NAFTA, and Florida’s agriculture industry stands to gain significantly.

Since the inception of NAFTA 25 years ago, agricultural trade between our three countries has boomed — U.S. exports to Canada and Mexico increased approximately 300% and our imports increased almost 500%, benefiting producers and consumers on both sides of our borders.

Certain folks have been saying USMCA will not protect Florida farmers from cheap Mexican fruits and vegetables. They neglect to mention farmers already face such competition under NAFTA. And they overlook the ways the administration is fighting for a level playing field in the seasonal fruit and vegetable market.

From the USDA’s most recent Census of Agriculture: Acreage in citrus decreased 28% for reasons other than trade, however non-citrus acreage has increased 55%. Berry acreage has grown 68%. Cash receipts for feed crops increased 62% despite depressed commodity prices. That is the beauty of our agricultural system – producers plant for the market, not for the program.

For the first time, trading rules specifically address agricultural biotechnology to support innovation and reduce trade-distorting policies. USMCA updates rules of origin for processed fruits to ensure preferences benefit U.S. producers. The new agreement maintains tariff-free access for U.S. beef shipped into Mexico and Canada, providing Florida’s cattlemen continued longstanding market access.

On my first day as secretary, President Trump promised he’d fight for better deals for American farmers – USMCA is proof of that. Our farmers, ranchers and producers have an abundance of the highest quality products they want to sell around the globe. President Trump is laying the foundation for a stronger farm economy through USMCA and other free and fair trade deals.

When President Trump mentioned the possibility of withdrawing from NAFTA, the universal hue and cry from agriculture was “do no harm.” Not only has he done that, he negotiated a better agreement on almost every front.

Sonny Perdue is U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, having been appointed by President Trump in 2017. He was Governor of Georgia from 2003 to 2011.