By Jennifer Dorsett
Field Editor

Farmers, ranchers and local business leaders gathered at the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Conference and Training Center today to voice concerns and provide input on the proposed U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by TFB, the Texas Association of Business (TAB), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce.

“Trade is consistently a great concern among Texans whenever I visit with them,” Cruz told the crowd. “There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding the issue, which is why we really need an updated agreement with our two biggest business partners, Canada and Mexico.”

The modernized trade agreement has been signed by all three countries’ leaders but is awaiting Congressional approval in the U.S. and ratification by the Canadian Parliament.

“The combined effect of USMCA is expected to increase total annual U.S. agricultural and food exports by $2.2 billion,” TFB Vice President Mark Chamblee said. “We must work to ratify USMCA now. Texas and American farmers and ranchers are depending on this trade agreement.”

Cruz noted USMCA will provide much-needed certainty for farmers and ranchers, as well as other key industries in the nation and Texas.

“Nationally, USMCA supports more than 11 million jobs, and here at home, around one million Texas families rely on USMCA-related jobs,” he said. “We’re doing our best to make sure we keep those jobs here and find opportunities to grow more.”

Cruz fielded questions from the audience on topics from Congressional term limits to rural healthcare, border security and supporting farmers and ranchers as national net farm income has fallen consistently over the past six years.

According to Cruz, Texas led the nation in wage increases over the past several years, due in part to increased exports to foreign markets. He noted the Port of Corpus Christi is the top crude oil exporter in the U.S.

He said he has worked for an increase in ethanol exports to other markets because it would be beneficial to American corn farmers while doing no harm to U.S. petroleum refineries.

“I think one of the greatest benefits Congress can do for U.S. farmers and ranchers is expanding foreign markets to sell their goods,” Cruz said.