U.S. chicken and turkey products will gain improved access to Canadian markets under the newly named United-States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which was announced on Sunday, September 30.

From NCC President Mike Brown and USAPEEC President Jim Sumner: “Canada has always been one of our key export markets. We’re most pleased that the new agreement not only assures our continued access, but provides for growth in our exports as we move forward.  It is a win-win for both the U.S. industry and Canadians, and we are very appreciative of the administration’s efforts during these negotiations.”

According to the deal, in addition to the $600 million worth of poultry and egg products that the U.S. exported to Canada in 2017, Canada will provide new tariff rate quotas for the U.S. for chicken, eggs and egg products, turkey, and broiler hatching eggs.

For chicken, the new tariff rate quota is 57,000 metric tons by year six of the agreement, growing one percent for an additional 10 years. The U.S. will still be eligible to export up to 39,844 metric tons under Canada’s World Trade Organization (WTO) tariff rate quota regime.

For broiler hatching eggs, the U.S. continues to maintain current access as agreed to under Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CUSFTA) of 21.1 percent of Canada’s domestic production.