Earlier in December I had the opportunity to testify before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on the operation of the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). It was an important moment, not just for NGFA and the thousands of facilities and workers we represent, but for the entire North American agricultural value chain. In my testimony, I underscored a message that has guided our work since NGFA was founded in 1896: “The economic health of North American agriculture, and the communities we support, depends on an open, predictable, rules-based trading system.”
That principle is especially important because America’s grain and feed industry touches every corner of the nation. There are 9,683 grain and feed facilities operating across the country, supporting 1.16 million U.S. jobs and generating $401.7 billion in total economic impact. This positive contribution reaches every state and every congressional district. These facilities, and the rural and urban communities they support, rely directly on stable market access, predictable rules, and a trade environment grounded in science and fairness.
Expanding Market Access and Strengthening Global Competitiveness
NGFA remains firmly committed to advancing policies that expand market access, promote fair competition, and strengthen America’s role as the preferred global supplier of grain, feed, and agricultural products. In that spirit, we appreciate President Trump and his administration's efforts to reopen the Chinese market to U.S. agricultural exports. China is a critical destination for U.S. commodities, and renewed access will bring meaningful opportunities for farmers, exporters, and transportation providers.
We were also encouraged by the administration’s progress with other key trading partners throughout the Asia-Pacific region. These developments reflect a welcome recognition that our long-term competitiveness depends on deepening strategic relationships with consumers and importers in dynamic global markets.
Renewing USMCA for a stable future As we outlined in a recent filing with USTR – and as I reiterated in my oral testimony in December – NGFA fully supports a 16-year renewal of USMCA with no changes to the underlying agreement. USMCA has delivered enormous value by strengthening supply chains, expanding export opportunities, and providing regulatory certainty.
But there is still room for improvement. One of the most significant areas is harmonizing grain inspection procedures between the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) and Mexico’s SENASICA. Despite rigorous U.S. inspections, Mexico reinspects shuttle trains under a zero-tolerance soil standard that differs from U.S. practice. This leads to costly delays, rail congestion, and fumigation expenses that can reach $70,000 per train. These duplicative procedures are not science-based and function as barriers to efficient trade. We strongly urge the administration to address this inconsistency during the USMCA review.
Port and Shipping Fees: A Welcome Suspension, With Work to be Done
We also strongly support the administration’s decision to suspend for one year the trade penalties tied to Chinese shipping vessels. This action is a significant win for U.S. farmers and agricultural exporters. Removing these fees has long been an NGFA priority because they would have harmed U.S. agricultural competitiveness without achieving their intended maritime objectives.
NGFA will continue advocating for a permanent end to these fees. Our focus should be on long-term policies that incentivize U.S. shipbuilding and maritime innovation, not punitive measures that raise costs and have the unintended consequences of disrupting supply chains.
Phase One with China: Maintaining a Meaningful Relationship
NGFA also submitted comments on the USTR’s Initiation of Section 301 Investigation: China's Implementation of Commitments Under the Phase One Agreement. In that filing, we specifically highlighted that China is a vital market for U.S. food and agricultural exports and represents unprecedented export opportunities. Further, due to the complex nature of the U.S.–China relationship, NGFA encourages the USTR to continue working with the Chinese government to use the recent U.S.-China agreement as the basis for regular dialogue on trade issues and to advance durable, lasting agreements on agricultural trade that create lasting demand for U.S. agriculture.
Looking Forward
The United States is well-positioned to expand its global leadership in agricultural trade, but only if we maintain science-based rules, predictable market access, and long-term trade agreements that growers, handlers, exporters, and customers can rely upon. We are grateful to President Trump and his administration for the progress we made in 2025. NGFA is committed to continuing to work with the administration, Congress, and our industry partners to strengthen these foundations and ensure that American agriculture continues to thrive, compete, and lead.