Farmscape for February 12, 2018

Manitoba's Minister of Agriculture remains optimistic that support from within the United States for the North American Free Trade Agreement will result in a mutually beneficial agreement being reached.
Manitoba's Agriculture Minister discussed a range of issues last week in Winnipeg, including trade, when he addressed pork sector stakeholders on hand for the 2018 Manitoba Swine Seminar.
Despite sensitivity over issues related to the auto industry, the U.S, call for a sunset  clause that would limit the duration of an agreement and Canadian and Mexican concerns over the U.S. desire to throw out the dispute settlement mechanism, negotiators are reported to have made substantial progress up to this point.
Ralf Eichler observes we've seen strong support for the Canadian position on the North American Free Trade Agreement from within the United States.

Clip-Ralf Eichler-Minister of Agriculture Manitoba:
We feel that we're getting closer to some type of resolution.
We know that the United States has had a number of folks come and support Canada, that they understand and know well that Canada is important to have in the U.S. economy.
They know their economy will suffer without us.
We appreciate that support.
We hope that that message gets back to President Trump.
The Senate has been very supportive, as well the House of Representatives have been very supportive of making sure we have an agreement now and going forward that's respectful and has benefits for trade for both countries that's beneficial.

Eichler notes U.S. Agriculture has been very clear about their support for the North American Free Trade agreement and he has been particularly impressed with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue who has been very pro trade.
He says, if NAFTA goes south on us in any way, it won't be because of agriculture.
For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

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