Texas corn farmers welcome news on movement toward USMCA ratification

Texas Corn Producers Association (TCPA) President Wesley Spurlock, a farmer from Stratford, Texas, made the following statement after an announcement that Congress and the White House are taking measures to ratify the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA):

Texas corn farmers welcome news that USMCA will be advancing in Congress. We appreciate the bipartisan effort of House leadership and the administration to reach an understanding and move this important agreement to reach stability in the trade relationship with our neighboring countries. TCPA particularly appreciates the leadership of Texas congressional members who recognize the value of these trade relations to our state and led the call for USMCA to proceed in D.C.

TCPA and fellow agricultural interest associations continue to assert the value of maintaining and growing agricultural export markets – and Mexico and Canada are key markets for Texas farmers. Securing trade relations is certainly needed as farmers continue facing volatile economic conditions – offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise grim market.

Mexico and Canada account for 29% of all U.S. agricultural exports. With U.S. corn and corn product exports valued at $3.3 billion, Mexico was the top market in 2017/2018. With its obvious geographic opportunities for Texas, the Mexican market is of vital importance for corn farmers – impacting farmers and regional economies significantly.

Source: Texas Corn Producers