BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — President Donald Trump announced information about the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is an update to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The Illinois Soybean Growers, which serves producers in the top soybean-producing state, values trade and access to markets.
Illinois Soybean Growers Chairwoman Lynn Rohrscheib, a soybean producer from Fairmount, Ill., said: “Today we are encouraged to see action on trade between the United States, Mexico and Canada, which are our closest trade customers. Once approved by Congress, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) could provide some support to the soybean industry and customers who use our soybeans. Last year, the estimated value of Illinois soybean exports to Mexico was about $350 million, which was about 10 percent of our soybean exports. As our Illinois soybean growers harvest a record crop, we have tremendous challenges due to low prices that are the result of tariffs and other barriers. We still need access to all markets. We implore the White House to work with our neighbors to end these barriers that are in place. We also need certainty through a new Farm Bill, which allows producers to plan for the future.”
Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG) is a membership organization serving more than 43,000 Illinois soybean growers. ISG provides advocacy in Springfield and Washington, D.C., to promote the interests of Illinois soybean farmers and programs that enhance soybean production and demand. Voice for Soy, the online action center supported by ISG, allows growers to easily connect with legislators and regulators to advocate for Illinois agriculture. For more information about ISG, visit the website www.ilsoygrowers.com.
— Illinois Soybean Growers
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