Michigan Ag Leaders Urge USMCA Passage; Regional Discussions Upcoming

As the dairy and agriculture industry work towards the passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the American Dairy Coalition (ADC) is urging the constituents of key congressional districts in Michigan and Minnesota reach out to their representatives to ensure they understand exactly what is at stake.

One ongoing barrier to ensuring reliable export markets are in place for local producers is the ratification of the USMCA. Agricultural leaders urge members of Congress to move forward with scheduling a vote on USMCA to ensure financial certainty for farmers as they move through the planting season.

Michigan agricultural leaders held a press conference this morning in East Lansing, Michigan to discuss the importance of agricultural trade for the state and the agricultural industry as a whole. In attendance were representatives from the Michigan Milk Producers Association, Michigan Agri-business Association, Greenstone Farm Credit Services, Michigan Soybean Association, and Michigan Pork Producers Association. Together, the group highlighted theimportance of agricultural trade for each of their industries, emphasizing the need to have comprehensive trade agreements in place to maintain consistent and reliable export market access.

Complicating the conversation this morning was the announcement of $60 billion in new Chinese tariffs on U.S. imports. The agricultural leaders acknowledged that these tariffs will have a negative impact on U.S. farmers across the nation and trade conversations with other countries moving forward.

This conversation will continue next week in Hawley, Minnesota. All members of the agricultural community are invited to attend the USMCA roundtable and trade discussion scheduled for Tuesday, May 21 ^st at 7:00 AM at the AmericInn by Wyndham in Hawley. Members of the media are also welcome.

Contact Karolyn Zurn (218-850-2919) with questions.