Contact: Amy Eckelberg, Executive Director of Public Relations, 608.828.5706

MADISON – The following statement can be attributed to Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President Jim Holte:

“Wisconsin farmers welcome the new agreement with our North American trade partners with opened arms. 

The state’s agricultural economy greatly benefits from trade and the relationships with our neighboring countries. The USMCA is very good news as it builds upon our already-established trade relationships with Canada and Mexico in several key areas. 

This new agreement eliminates aspects of Canada’s dairy program that were being used to undercut U.S. dairy products. U.S. dairy gained access to 3.6% of Canada’s dairy market. This is greater than what would have been achieved through TPP.

Additionally, the USMCA includes measures to address cooperation, information sharing and other trade rules related to agricultural biotechnology and gene editing. This is the first time we are seeing measures like this in a trade agreement.

We look forward to continuing to review and dissect this agreement and the valuable impact it will have on our state’s farmers.”

Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general farm organization with members of every farm size, commodity and management style.

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