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USMCA boosts US agricultural exports, supporting nearly half a million jobs

The trade agreement drives $149 billion in economic activity and strengthens rural economies in 2024.

Golden grain cascading from green and metal industrial chute against blue sky

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) continues to be a vital tool for the U.S. agricultural sector, generating $149 billion in total economic contribution and supporting nearly 500,000 jobs in 2024 according to a report put out by the Agricultural Coalition for USMCA. The agreement preserves critical access to North America’s largest export markets, reinforcing the competitiveness of American farmers, ranchers and food manufacturers.

Agricultural and seafood exports to Canada and Mexico reached $60.9 billion in 2024, reflecting a 47 percent growth since USMCA’s implementation in 2020. This growth rate far outpaces the 18 percent increase in agricultural exports to the rest of the world over the same period. The agreement also ensures duty-free access to essential inputs, lowering costs for producers.

Every $1 in exports under USMCA supports an additional $2.45 in economic activity across the U.S., with direct, indirect, and induced impacts spanning farming, processing, transportation, real estate, and even healthcare. The trade relationship supports $64 billion in U.S. GDP and generates $13 billion in tax revenue.