The National Farmers Union is so far not yet backing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), despite the agreement being widely viewed by most in U.S. agriculture as a positive for the sector.
A resolution adopted by NFU’s board and released Monday says that country-of-origin labeling (COOL) should be added to the agreement, and that the trade pact should also address concerns Democrats have raised about labor standards and drug pricing.
COOL language will not be part of any final USMCA voted on by Congress, congressional and administration sources stress, but discussions continue on some of NFU's other shortcomings in the environmental, labor and drug pricing areas.
The group held a session at USDA as part of their annual flyin for members to visit Washington and meet with administration officials and lawmakers. Some in the group were critical of the Trump trade policies, but USDA Undersecretary Ted McKinney sought assured the farmers he heard their concerns and pledged the administration was seeking to open markets for U.S. ag goods.
For perspective, NFU has never supported a multilateral trade deal.
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