Mexican Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Victor Villalobos, and United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, met last week in Ames, Iowa to discuss Trade Agreements between the two countries. They reaffirmed the importance of the two nations exceptional agricultural trading relationship and its role in supporting rural prosperity, creating good jobs and providing nutritious safe and affordable food to consumers in both countries. They say, thanks to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and hard working farmers and ranchers, both nations enjoyed the world’s largest two way trade in food and agricultural goods.
Vilsak says the discussions in Iowa highlighted the importance of continuing to work together to advance rural prosperity and to fulfill shared responsibility to protect agricultural systems and producers. This includes collaborative efforts to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever and other animal and plant diseases and pests. He says they share a commitment to keeping markets open and transparent so that trade can continue to grow, stating that the mutual commitment between the U. S. and Mexico was reaffirmed.
