[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 17, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S1059]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       National Agriculture Week

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I have come to the floor before to speak 
about the value of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the 
value to all three countries, but most importantly the United States. I 
am here again in honor of National Agriculture Week.
  I would like to continue my review of the United States-Mexico-Canada 
Agreement, or USMCA for short, and I do it today by thanking President 
Trump for what he called ``the largest, fairest, most balanced, and 
modern trade agreement ever achieved.''
  I hope that President Trump remembers those words--and they were very 
appropriate words--as he leads the reconsideration of USMCA today.
  One little provision, but an important provision in the USMCA, in 
2020, when the agreement was signed, it may have been difficult to see 
just how big an impact the first ever biotechnology provision in a 
trade agreement would make and how important the dispute settlement 
piece would be for that agreement, and, in this particular case, 
helping American farmers.
  It happens that in 2022, Mexico tried to ban genetically modified 
corn. In Iowa language, we say GMO product. This could have led to more 
bans and shutting off billions of dollars in markets for U.S. ag 
products.
  After a significant push by this Senator and the junior Senator from 
Iowa, the U.S. Trade Representative filed a successful dispute 
settlement in the process that was laid out in the USMCA, and that 
dispute settlement resulted in Mexico reversing its ban on GMO corn. It 
was a win for U.S. farmers, processors, and the very large, fair, 
balanced, and modern United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
  Now, that is a very small part of this agreement because, overall, 
the big picture is that USMCA has been a success throughout and for all 
of our economy, but especially for agriculture.
  Now, this agreement--and it is under the agreement--is going through 
a review process that was called for in that agreement, and the big 
question is: Will the United States lead Mexico and Canada to continue 
this agreement to the year 2036?
  I am urging this administration that the first few years of the USMCA 
has been so beneficial to all three countries that it is a no-brainer 
to continue the USMCA through 2036.
  Along this line, I will be meeting with Canadian Senators to talk 
about how they feel this agreement is going and how successful they 
think it might be getting it continued.
  I hope that it will be continued, and that is what I am urging the 
Trump administration to see through because, like I say, it is a no-
brainer. It should be continued.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.