USMEF Prepares Testimony Ahead of Key USMCA Hearing as Experts Warn of Trade Turbulence
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) is gearing up for the U.S. Trade Representative’s public hearing this week regarding the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). As the agricultural industry anticipates next year’s scheduled review of the agreement, the organization is focusing on protecting the stability and growth of North American red meat trade.
During the recent USMEF Strategic Planning Conference, industry leaders and trade experts outlined the wide-ranging impact USMCA continues to have on export competitiveness. Among the speakers was Kenneth Smith Ramos, previously a lead negotiator for the Mexican government and a key figure in shaping modern North American trade policy. He offered a realistic but encouraging assessment of what the coming year may bring.
Smith Ramos emphasized current friction between the U.S. and Mexico, stating, “We see turbulence in terms of the Mexico-U.S. trade relationship of course because of these tariffs that the U.S. has imposed. We see a complex USMCA review, but we do not see a scenario where there is an imminent collapse of the agreement. There will be turbulence, but we do not see the plane crashing.”
His remarks reflect mounting concerns within the agricultural sector over retaliatory tariffs, trade investigations, and political shifts affecting cross-border commerce. Still, he noted that cooperation among all three nations remains strong and essential. As he explained, “But we need to work together in cooperation between the agricultural sectors of Mexico and the U.S. and Canada as well. Preserving the agreement as trilateral is very important. We have a very vibrant relationship as well with Canada.”
For the red meat industry, a unified North American trade framework is critical. USMCA reduces regulatory barriers, streamlines border processes, and ensures reliable market access—benefits that drive billions in annual U.S. beef and pork exports. Smith Ramos stressed that this unity must remain a priority, saying, “So pushing our governments to maintain a trilateral nature of the agreement and coming to agreements on key issues on China, on eliminating trade barriers, is essential.”
As the USTR hearing approaches, USMEF aims to ensure policymakers understand what’s at stake: a stable, collaborative trade environment that supports producers, processors, and consumers across all three nations.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.