In a preview of the message they’ll give to lawmakers later this week, U.S. farm groups and a delegation of grain and industry officials from Mexico used a news conference in Nebraska to emphasize the value of the U.S.-Mexico ag trade partnership, reported AgDaily. “Bilateral trade with Mexico has helped grow agriculture in our state over the years,” said Gov. Pete Ricketts.
Mexico is the No. 3 export market for U.S. agriculture and the No. 1 source of U.S. food and ag imports. Mexico is a leading market for U.S. corn, soybeans, pork, and dairy. “Later this week, the Mexican delegation will travel to Washington, D.C., where they will join U.S. corn farmers for meetings with congressional leaders to discuss the U.S.-Mexico trade relationship,” said AgDaily. The National Corn Growers Association said exports are a key source of U.S. farm income. “That’s why we need strong trade agreements like NAFTA.”
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo met in Mexico City without success on sugar trade, said Reuters. The United States set a June 5 deadline for an agreement on the volume and price of Mexican sugar shipped to U.S. buyers. “On Thursday, Mexico’s foreign, finance, and interior ministers are due to meet their U.S. counterparts in Washington, in preparations for the NAFTA talks as Mexico has insisted that all parts of the bilateral relationship be discussed along with trade,” said Reuters.