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Senators request ag analysis of NAFTA

A group of Senators representing major agricultural states are requesting an analysis of how any changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement would impact agriculture.

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill is among lawmakers calling for an economic evaluation of NAFTA by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. She tells Brownfield Congress wants fair trade policies, but it’s harder than it looks.  “We’re not going to walk away from NAFTA or impose some kind of new penalty on products from Canada or Mexico and not have retaliation against ag.”

Secretary Ross has previously said agricultural exports would not be hurt too badly if the U.S. was to withdraw from the agreement. The Senators disagree, saying it’s imperative negotiations don’t jeopardize gains made for ag exports.

Secretary Ross said earlier this month agriculture is one specialty interest group whose public outcry has made negotiations harder.

The letter was signed by Senators Pat Roberts of Kansas, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, as well as Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt of Missouri, Michael Rounds and John Thune of South Dakota, Joni Ernst and Charles Grassley of Iowa, and Rob Portman of Ohio, among others.