(Agreement serves as building block for all trade liberalization)
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been an “unqualified success” in facilitating agricultural trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico, and serves as a model for future efforts, according to A. Ellen Terpstra, administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“The United States, Mexico, and Canada enjoy a thriving agricultural trade relationship derived from the historic decision to open our borders and break down barriers to trade,” Terpstra said in April 20 testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
More specifically, she indicated that farmers in the three NAFTA nations have benefited from the reduction of arbitrary and discriminatory trade rules, while consumers have enjoyed lower prices and more choices.
Terpstra outlined the significant growth in agricultural trade among NAFTA partners since the agreement entered into force. She said that in addition to facilitating trade, NAFTA also has…