Michigan farmers and agricultural leaders told Congressman Tom Barrett that maintaining strong trade relationships with Canada and Mexico is critical to the state’s farm economy. Barrett joined producers at a roundtable hosted by Farmers for Free Trade and the Michigan Agri-Business Association to discuss the ongoing review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Canada and Mexico are Michigan agriculture’s top two export markets, with more than $1.7 billion in Michigan farm and food exports flowing to the two countries each year. Farmers told Barrett that access to those markets influences marketing decisions, input costs and long-term investments in their operations. Farmers for Free Trade Executive Director Brian Kuhel says Michigan farmers need a strong trading relationship with their neighbors and should have a voice in the USMCA review. Michigan Farm Bureau’s Jacob Smith also emphasized the importance of dependable agricultural markets across North America and said the talks could have significant implications for market access and farm profitability.
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