Trade Agreement Will Provide Continued Predictability and Tariff-Free Trade with Key
North American Partners
WASHINGTON – The Pet Food Institute (PFI) today celebrated the agreement reached by the Administration and Congress on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which will provide much-needed stability and transparency for pet food makers, and urges swift ratification of this critical trade agreement.
The USMCA will benefit U.S. pet food and treat producers by maintaining the core provisions and market access of the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), while enhancing and incorporating new provisions that will assist as manufacturers seek to maintain and develop further exports throughout the region. Thanks to NAFTA’s success, U.S. dog and cat food exports to Canada and Mexico totaled approximately $740 million in 2018, representing well over one-half of all U.S. pet food exports.
“USMCA ratification by Congress will be a critical step in assuring continued tariff-free trade with our first and third largest export markets, allowing U.S. pet food makers to strengthen and deepen relationships with their Canadian and Mexican partners,” said Dana Brooks, president and CEO of PFI. “We appreciate the efforts of Congress and the Administration to work together and we urge Congress to complete its task by ratifying the agreement as quickly as possible.”
The North America supply chain is a crucial part of U.S. pet food makers’ businesses, which relies upon the integrated relationships built with northern and southern trading partners. The United States also imported more than $250 million of pet food products from Canada and Mexico last year, demonstrating the synergy that NAFTA has facilitated and that the USMCA will provide going forward. An expeditious ratification by Congress will see these accomplishments further grow.
ABOUT THE PET FOOD INSTITUTE
Since 1958, the Pet Food Institute has been the voice of the U.S. pet food and treat makers. PFI is the industry’s representative before Congress and state legislatures, as well as state and federal agencies; public education and media relations resource; organizer of seminars and educational programs; and liaison with other organizations. PFI represents the companies that make 98 percent of U.S. dog and cat food and treat products, an industry with more than $30 billion in U.S. retail sales and $1.46 billion in exports in 2018. Visit petfoodinstitute.org to learn more.