Tri-National Agriculture Accord talks NAFTA, nervously

    Colorado’s top agricultural export, beef, could be in for rockier times if Mexico decides to go elsewhere, as was hinted last week by a Mexican government official.
    Hector Padilla, secretary of rural development for the Mexican state of Jalisco, said Wednesday, Oct. 18, that Mexico is starting to look at Brazil and Argentina for beef exports in the wake of uncertainty about the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
    Padilla’s remarks came during the 26th Tri-National Agricultural Accord, a four-day summit held in Denver that wrapped up Friday, Oct. 20. The summit brought together state, federal and provincial (Canada) officials from the three nations to talk agricultural opportunities, trade and rural development.
    But it’s NAFTA and its possible impacts on agriculture that most worried those who attended the summit. That worry also is based on the Trump administration’s insistence on a border wall between the United States and Mexico, a wall that Padilla said could slow the export of perishable Mexican produce into the U.S. and Canada.
    Beef is Colorado’s top agricultural export, and Canada and Mexico are Colorado’s No. 1 and 2, respectively, importers of beef, according to Don Brown, Colorado commissioner of agriculture.
    Brown said Colorado beef producers are concerned but are leaving the talk about NAFTA to state and federal officials, as well as the organizations that represent those producers. NAFTA has been very good for Colorado agriculture, especially beef and grains, Brown told this reporter in a later interview.
    “Do no harm,” said officials at the summit Wednesday, pleading with the Trump administration to proceed carefully.
    Jeff Leal, Ontario, Canada, minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, pointed out that all three nations share an interest in promoting the benefits of free and fair trade. “NAFTA has served us well at home, and made our countries more competitive” and an international force.
    The summit hosted the largest U.S. delegation in its 26-year history, according to Steven Reviczky, commissioner of agriculture for Connecticut and president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. “Our presence today as a delegation is a testament to how important NAFTA is for agricultural sectors of our states and a commitment to doing everything we can to ensure its continued success.”
    “It’s imperative that we, as state and provincial agricultural leaders, speak together on importance of trilateral relationships, the importance of NAFTA for agriculture and the importance of working together to build a prosperous North American economy,” Leal said Wednesday.

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