Farm groups sign letter calling for renewal of North American trade deal

Nearly 100 groups representing Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector have sent a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney in a show of support for a full, 16-year renewal of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).

The organizations represent a broad spectrum of agriculture and agri-food industries, including farmers, ranchers, processors and agribusinesses.

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The group’s letter stated that CUSMA has been instrumental in fostering a stable, integrated North American agricultural market, and has enabled Canadian farmers, ranchers, processors, and exporters to thrive through predictable access to our most important trading partners.

Trade between the three countries under CUSMA has led to the tripling of the value of North American agriculture and agrifood trade between 2005 and 2023, totaling approximately $400 billion.

“As global competition intensifies and the integrity of the international trade system is challenged, it is more important than ever that Canada stands firm in its commitment to a rules-based trading environment,” the groups wrote in the letter.

The groups added that the continuation of science-based regulatory co-operation is critical to ensuring timely access to agricultural innovations.

The letter was signed by a large component of the agriculture industry:

• Agricultural Alliance of New Brunswick
• Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan
• Alberta Beef Producers
• Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association
• Alberta Federation of Agriculture
• Alberta Milk
• Alberta Pork
• Animal Nutrition Association of Canada
• Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia
• Association des Aquaculteurs du Québec
• Association of Equipment Manufacturers
• Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association
• Beef Farmers of Ontario
• BC Agriculture Council
• BC Dairy Association
• BC Fruit Growers Association
• BC Greenhouse Growers Association
• BC Pork
• BC Salmon Farmers Association
• BC Shellfish Growers Association
• British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association
• Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance
• Canadian Association of Bovine Veterinarians
• Canadian Beekeepers Federation
• Canadian Bison Association
• Canadian Cattle Association
• Canadian Federation of Agriculture
• Canadian Hatching Egg Producers
• Canadian Honey Council
• Canadian Livestock Transporters’ Alliance
• Canadian Meat Council
• Canadian Nursery Landscape Association
• Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance
• Canadian Potato Council
• Canadian Pork Council
• Canadian Poultry & Egg Processors
• Canadian Produce Marketing Association
• Canadian Seed Growers’ Association
• Canadian Sheep Federation
• Canadian Sugar Beet Producers Association
• Canadian Veal Association
• Chicken Farmers of Canada
• Dairy Farmers of Canada
• Dairy Farmers of Manitoba
• Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick
• Dairy Farmers of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia
• Dairy Farmers of Ontario
• Dairy Farmers of Prince Edward Island
• Deans Council – Agriculture, Food and Veterinary MedicineEgg Farmers of Canada
• Equestrian Canada
• Fertilizer Canada
• Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (F.A.R.M.S.)
• Flowers Canada Growers
• Food and Beverage Canada
• Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada
• Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada
• Holland Marsh Growers Association
• Horticulture Nova Scotia
• Keystone Agricultural Producers
• Les Éleveurs de Porcs de Québec
• Les Producteurs de bovins du Québec
• Les Producteurs de lait du Québec
• Manitoba Beef Producers
• Manitoba Pork
• Mushrooms Canada
• National Cattle Feeders’ Association
• National Circle for Indigenous Agriculture & Food
• National Sheep Network
• New Brunswick Cattle Producers
• Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association
• Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Agriculture
• Nova Scotia Cattle Producers
• Nova Scotia Fruit Growers Association
• Ontario Aquaculture Association
• Ontario Federation of Agriculture
• Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
• Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers
• Ontario Pork
• Ontario Produce Marketing Association
• PEI Aquaculture Alliance
• PEI Cattle Producers
• PEI Federation of Agriculture
• PEI Hog Marketing Board
• PEI Potato Board
• NB Pork
• Pork Nova Scotia
• Quebec Produce Marketing Association
• Quebec Vert
• Restaurants Canada
• Saskatchewan Cattle Association
• SaskMilk
• Sask Pork
• Spirits Canada
• Turkey Farmers of Canada
• Union des producteurs agricoles

Representation from the grain industry was notably absent.