WASHINGTON – The Biden administration must ensure that Mexico abides by its obligations under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and allow American farmers to sell U.S. grown corn and other American-made agriculture products on the Mexican market, write House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (Mo.) and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith (Neb.) in a letter sent to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Although Mexico represents the second largest export market for U.S. corn, American farmers have been under threat of new restrictions by Mexico for the last two years, and the issue still remains unresolved:
“We appreciate your engagement on this vital issue and the recent statement from Ambassador McKalip and Under Secretary Taylor emphasizing that these measures are not grounded in science and would cause serious harm to American farmers. We are supportive of efforts ‘to hammer out a solution,’ but we must emphasize that these restrictions have been hanging over the heads of American farmers for over two years now and the Government of Mexico has not addressed core U.S. concerns.”
The letter makes clear that the Biden administration must begin a formal dispute under USMCA to remove uncertainty for American farmers and empower them to succeed during this year’s planting season:
“That is why we believe it is time to aggressively enforce USMCA by initiating a formal dispute against these measures. We must engage with the Government of Mexico from a position of strength, not weakness. Time is of the essence as farmers plan for the 2023 planting season that will feed the world in 2024.”
Bottom Line: Rural America’s economy relies on selling U.S. agriculture around the world. The Biden administration must take action and ensure countries, like Mexico, face swift consequences for failing to honor trade commitments to the United States.