Seventeen ag-state senators have signed a letter to U.S. Trade Representative about the boon the North American Free Trade Agreement has been

Seventeen ag-state senators have signed a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, reminding him of the boon the North American Free Trade Agreement has been to the agricultural sector, and asking him to ensure that “no changes are made that could result in harm to U.S. agriculture.” The letter points out that Canada and Mexico together accounted for 28 percent of the total value of ag exports from the United States in 2016. “[P]articularly given the current depressed state of the agriculture economy,” the letter said, “[t]he longstanding trade agreement between the three countries has proven to be an important success within the agriculture industry.” Public hearings on NAFTA and goals for a renegotiation are being held in Washington, D.C., this week.