Agricultural organizations across North America are calling on governments of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to renew and strengthen the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) ahead of a key review process set to begin next month, warning that uncertainty around the trade pact could threaten one of the world’s most integrated agricultural markets.
Nearly 160 organizations representing food and agricultural industries across the three countries signed a joint letter on Monday urging officials to maintain the agreement, arguing that the trade deal has helped make North America one of the world’s most food-secure regions while strengthening supply chains and supporting farm profitability.
The letter was sent to Ambassador Jamieson Greer, with the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Canada-U.S. Trade Representative Dominic LeBlanc and Mexico’s Secretary of the Economy Marcelo Ebrard.
Known as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in the U.S., the agreement, which came into force in July 2020, requires all three countries to begin a mandatory six-year review process on July 1, 2026. The review could result in extending the agreement for another 16 years, entering annual negotiations, or potentially allowing the agreement to lapse if governments fail to reach consensus.
Farm and agribusiness groups say maintaining continuity is particularly important at a time when producers are facing rising costs, lower commodity prices, geopolitical uncertainty, and weather-related risks. Organizations signing the letter argued that predictable trade rules are increasingly important for managing supply chains and maintaining competitiveness in global markets.
The Canola Council of Canada, Cereals Canada, the Canadian Cattle Association, and the Canadian Pork Council are among the Canadian signatories to the letter.
Agriculture has been one of the largest beneficiaries of North American trade integration. Supporters of the agreement note that the three-country bloc encompasses more than 500 million consumers, generates approximately $30 trillion in economic activity, and facilitates roughly $1.7 trillion in trade annually. They argue that closer integration reduces reliance on distant suppliers while improving food movement between surplus and deficit regions.
For agriculture specifically, producer groups say USMCA has helped reduce regulatory barriers, improve transparency, and promote science-based trade rules for agricultural products. Those measures have become increasingly important for sectors such as grains, livestock, oilseeds, and processed foods, where cross-border supply chains are deeply interconnected.
The letter also said that a renewed agreement could help prevent future trade disputes from escalating at a time when agricultural margins remain under pressure. Farm groups said certainty surrounding trade policy will be critical as negotiations continue over the coming months, with many hoping governments signal their commitment to extending the agreement before the formal review process begins.
