Leaders from the U.S. National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and Canadian provincial agricultural officials issued a joint statement emphasizing the role of state and provincial governments in safeguarding food security and strengthening North American agricultural trade. The announcement comes from the 33rd annual Tri-National Agricultural Accord, hosted by NASDA President and Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture, Wes Ward.
“By collaborating as a North American trade alliance, we increase food security for our entire continent and uplift rural communities,” Ward stated. “We will take action from our discussions this week to better foster trade and engineer solutions to challenges farmers and ranchers face in each of our countries.”
Delegates reaffirmed the benefits of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in boosting agricultural trade across the continent. With a critical 2026 USMCA review approaching, delegates stressed the need to preserve and expand the agreement’s free trade provisions. Leaders also highlighted initiatives for agricultural outreach, encouraging cross-border collaboration to reach rural, Indigenous, and minority communities.
The communiqué also calls for greater federal support in organizing exercises to improve preparedness for foreign animal diseases, ensuring coordinated responses across all three countries.
The Tri-National Agricultural Accord remains a central forum for addressing agricultural trade and development issues among the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Established in 1992, the Accord underscores a shared commitment to agricultural collaboration. Mexico will host the 34th annual Accord in 2025.
