Agricultural and food organizations from Canada, the United States and Mexico are urging their governments to renew the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) as the trade pact approaches a scheduled review on July 1.

More than 160 organizations from across North America have signed a joint letter calling for the agreement to be extended, arguing that the deal has strengthened trade ties and improved the competitiveness of the continent’s agriculture and food sectors. The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) is among the Canadian groups supporting the initiative.

The organizations say Canada, the United States and Mexico remain each other’s most important agricultural trading partners and that maintaining a stable trade framework is critical for farmers, food processors and exporters. They contend that the agreement has improved market access, increased transparency in trade rules and reduced barriers that can slow the movement of agricultural products across borders.

According to the groups, agri-food trade among the three countries has grown substantially over the past two decades. They argue that preserving the agreement would help North America remain competitive in global markets while supporting common standards related to food safety, plant and animal health, and agricultural innovation.

The review comes at a time of uncertainty in North American trade relations. While many Canadian exports continue to enter the United States duty-free under CUSMA, tariffs remain in place on some sectors, including steel, aluminum and automobiles. Trade officials from all three countries have been discussing the future of the agreement ahead of the review process.

Canada and Mexico have both indicated support for extending the agreement for another 16 years. If all three countries agree during the review process, the pact can be renewed. If no consensus is reached, the agreement would remain in force but would be subject to annual reviews.

For Canadian agriculture, the outcome is significant because the United States and Mexico are among the country's largest export markets for a wide range of products, including grains, oilseeds, livestock and processed foods. Industry groups say a renewed agreement would provide greater certainty for producers and businesses making long-term investment decisions.