IFB’s Nielsen: USMCA agreement improvement over NAFTA

Posted on December 10, 2019
Illinois Farm Bureau Director of National Legislation and Policy Development Adam Nielsen. (Photo courtesy Illinois Farm Bureau)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – House Democrats and Speaker Nancy Pelosi have reached a deal with the White House on the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.

Adam Nielsen, Director of National Legislation and Policy Development for the Illinois Farm Bureau, said an agreement on USMCA is an improvement over the North American Free Trade Agreement, which took effect 25 years ago.

Nielsen said the new trade deal is good news for Illinois farmers because it keeps tariff-free access to those markets.

“One of our biggest markets is Mexico and the numbers are big from Illinois.  They are our biggest corn market and an enormous market for pork and beef,” said Nielsen.

The USMCA has benefits for agriculture and many other industries, according to Nielsen. He believes the trade agreement has provisions that appeal to both sides of the aisle.

A vote on the House floor could come as early as this week.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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