A bipartisan group of 10 senators led by Senators Tom Carper (D-DE), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) this week wrote to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer about the need to use the renegotiation of NAFTA to eliminate trade barriers imposed by Canada on some U.S. poultry products.
“Contrary to the promises of NAFTA, Canada has continued to impose stringent, protectionist trade policies that limit sales for American poultry exporters. As a result, the administration’s commitment to improving the terms of NAFTA presents American poultry exporters with a unique opportunity to eliminate Canadian trade barriers, which have hampered growth for more than 20 years,” the lawmakers wrote.
“We strongly urge you to focus on this issue during your talks with Canadian trade representatives, and we expect that progress will be made,” they added.
Also signing the letter were Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), John Boozman (R-AR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Mark Warner (D-VA).
The senators also stressed the importance of the Mexican market to U.S. poultry exports and that any modernization of NAFTA must ensure our poultry trade with Mexico remains robust and mutually beneficial.
