President Trump on Wednesday signaled that he may seek changes to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) as the three countries prepare for a formal review of the trade pact later this year, suggesting that the upcoming negotiations could provide an opportunity to secure what he views as a stronger deal for the United States.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump indicated he is not automatically committed to extending the agreement in its current form, a position that could serve as leverage as the United States, Canada and Mexico enter discussions over the future of the landmark trade accord.
“Well, I’m not looking to renew it,” said Trump. “I made the deal, and the primary reason I made the deal is that NAFTA was the worst trade deal I’ve ever seen.”
The USMCA, negotiated during Trump’s first term and implemented in 2020, replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. The agreement includes a mandatory joint review every six years, with the first formal review scheduled to begin July 1.
Under the agreement’s terms, the United States, Canada and Mexico must decide whether to extend the pact for another 16 years. If any country declines, annual reviews would continue until the issue is resolved or the agreement expires.
Trump’s comments suggest he views the review process as an opportunity to reassess the agreement and press for terms he believes would better serve American economic interests, including farmers, manufacturers and energy producers.
“I don’t know that I’m going to renew it because to be honest with you, the United States does much better. Hey, we don’t need anything that Canada has. We don’t need anything that Mexico has, but they need everything that we have,” Trump said.
Trade observers note that presidents often use major review periods and negotiation deadlines to strengthen their bargaining position. Trump’s remarks are likely to be closely watched by agricultural groups and businesses that depend on cross-border trade as the administration prepares for talks with its North American partners.
For U.S. agriculture, the review carries significant importance.
Canada and Mexico consistently rank as the nation’s top two agricultural export destinations. Together, they purchase roughly one-third of all U.S. agricultural exports, including corn, soybeans, pork, dairy products, beef, poultry, fruits and vegetables. Annual agricultural sales to the two countries approach $60 billion, according to U.S. trade data.
The agreement has been especially important for Midwestern farmers. Mexico is the largest foreign buyer of U.S. corn, while both Canada and Mexico are major destinations for American soybeans, ethanol, distillers grains, dairy products and meat exports. Farm organizations have long argued that maintaining and strengthening access to those markets supports commodity prices, rural employment and agricultural investment throughout the United States.
At the same time, some supporters of the administration believe the review presents an opportunity to address trade imbalances and modernize provisions of the agreement to reflect current economic conditions.
Trump emphasized that point when discussing trade flows with America’s neighbors.
“And they have to treat us better. You know, with Mexico and Canada, we have trade deficits. We should have surpluses with them. We don’t need their cars. We don’t need their lumber. We don’t need their energy. We don’t need anything that they have,” added Trump.
His comments come as the administration continues broader trade discussions with several countries around the world. Trump has frequently used the prospect of tariffs, deadlines and renegotiations as tools to bring trading partners to the table and pursue concessions that he argues benefit American workers, businesses and producers.
Agricultural groups will be watching closely as the review process unfolds. Many organizations have credited USMCA with preserving critical export markets for U.S. farm products, while also expressing interest in ensuring that Canada and Mexico fully comply with existing trade commitments.
Officials from the United States, Canada and Mexico are expected to continue discussions in Washington next week as preparations for the formal review process begin.
Following Trump’s comments on Wednesday, the Agricultural Coalition for USMCA that released the following statement:
“USMCA is one of President Trump’s signature accomplishments and has been a critical economic driver for farmers and rural communities. Administration officials have been very responsive to our calls for the renewal of USMCA with targeted improvements, and we appreciate the continued engagement on the future of this critical agreement. President Trump is a strong negotiator, and we are confident in his ability to reach a deal with Canada and Mexico that works for all three countries while meeting the needs of America’s farmers.”
While questions remain about what changes the administration may ultimately seek, Trump’s comments underscore that the upcoming review is likely to be more than a routine extension process. Instead, it could become a significant negotiation over the future of North American trade and the role it plays in supporting American agriculture, manufacturing and economic growth.
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