Heitkamp Statement on New Trade Agreement with Canada & Mexico

“From the beginning of the renegotiation of NAFTA, which has been going on for over a year, I’ve been pushing for a deal that maintains North Dakota’s critical trade relationships with Canada and Mexico, our largest trading partners,” Heitkamp said. “The renegotiation was an opportunity to address several issues important to North Dakota agriculture. Over the past year, I’ve had many helpful and substantive meetings with the Canadian ambassador to talk through issues in NAFTA that I hoped could be addressed to support North Dakota farmers and ranchers. The new agreement is good news for wheat growers who would no longer face an unfair Canadian grading system – a change I’ve been pushing for – but it’s disappointing the concerns of cattle ranchers and potato farmers were not addressed. Additionally, this agreement doesn’t address the steel and aluminum tariffs which are still putting North Dakota’s energy industry and agriculture manufacturing equipment companies in jeopardy. Throughout the negotiation, I’ve been working with North Dakota agriculture producers to help them maintain their relationships with their buyers in Canada and Mexico, and I hope we can now move forward in a way that’s good for North Dakota’s ag economy.”