The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) remains essential for sustaining steady demand in the North American meat market, according to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). The agreement facilitates expanded access for a broad range of beef and pork cuts, including lower-value portions that are critical to maximizing producers’ returns.
Mexico represents the largest market for U.S. beef variety meats, while Canada leads in processed meat imports. This complementary dynamic enables U.S. producers to extract full value from every part of an animal, supports efficient distribution, and underpins the overall health of the meat supply chain across the region.
Industry representatives expressed concern about the potential fallout should the USMCA face elimination or significant modification. The introduction of tariffs or other trade barriers could disrupt established cross-border flows, introducing inefficiencies that would affect U.S. meat production and consumer prices over time. Producers and exporters rely on the agreement to avoid costly obstacles that hamper trade.
Negotiations surrounding the USMCA are expected to continue beyond the midyear mark, with formal discussions with Canada currently stalled. The uncertainty is a source of unease within the agricultural sector, which depends on stable trade conditions to plan production and investment. The U.S. Meat Export Federation, in collaboration with organizations like the Corn Refiners Association and the American Coalition for USMCA, remains engaged in advocating for the preservation and strengthening of the agreement.