U.S. farmers urge Congress to pass USMCA amid trade uncertainty

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- More than 2,200 farmers across the United States have urged Congress to swiftly pass a new North American trade deal, known as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), advocacy group Farmers for Free Trade said on Tuesday.

"Each day without action on USMCA is another day of uncertainty for American farmers and our rural communities," the farmers wrote in a letter to congressional leaders released by the advocacy group.

"The combination of record low prices, devastating weather episodes and uncertain markets have had a dramatic impact on our families, our friends and neighbors," the letter said, adding uncertainty in trade has had a major impact on U.S. agriculture.

"We have suffered from retaliatory tariffs, lost market share, and watched while America's competitors are seen as more reliable trading partners," the farmers said, calling ratifying USMCA a top priority for the nation's agriculture community.

"We look forward to action from both parties in the House and the Senate and are asking that you work together to pass the USMCA as soon as possible," they said.

The farmers signing the letter are mainly small, family farmers that Farmers for Free Trade and its supporters have met or connected with through their advocacy efforts.

"If we aren't exporting food, we don't have a farm economy in the United States. We depend on these export markets ... stabilizing trade with Canada and Mexico is so critically important," said Brian Kuehl, co-executive director of Farmers for Free Trade.

The letter came after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said last week that House Democrats are "within range" of a deal with the U.S. administration to secure changes to the USMCA.

"We are within range of a substantially improved agreement for America's workers. Now, we need to see our progress in writing from the Trade Representative for final review," Pelosi said in a statement.

House Democrats have negotiated for months with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on changes to the USMCA in four main areas, namely, labor, environment, enforcement, and prescription drug provisions, according to U.S. media.

However, it's not yet clear whether Congress could pass the USMCA deal by the end of this year, even if House Democrats and the Trump administration announce a deal soon.