The Society of American Florists welcomes new trade deal between the U.S., Canada and Mexico

According to an announcement from the Society of American Florists (SAF), the U.S., Canada and Mexico have completed a trade deal that will replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Per the article, the new deal includes SAF-backed stipulations pertaining to scientific and phytosanitary (SPS) standards the SAF requires.

Read the article, below:

The United States, Mexico and Canada have finalized a trade deal to replace the 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The pact includes important Society of American Florists-backed stipulations related to science-based sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards.

“The final deal reflects floral industry input and helps ensure that growers, products and the supply chain are protected,” said Joe Bischoff, Ph.D., SAF’s senior lobbyist, noting that union support proved critical to the deal’s final approval. “Having a finalized trade deal adds more stability to the market, which is a good thing for businesses.”

Representatives from all three countries signed the pact, known as USMCA, this week, shortly after Democrats in the U.S. Congress signaled their support. According to The New York Times, “the changes must now be woven into implementing legislation that the House and Senate will both vote on. The pact will also need to secure [President Trump’s] signature and the final approval of the Mexican and Canadian legislatures.”

SAF has been in communication with the government since the early stages of USMCA negotiations, advocating for modernization of SPS standards to protect domestic producers from new and invasive pests, along with enhanced electronic data sharing provisions.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative singled out the enhanced SPS rules as a key achievement of USMCA.

Continue to the full article on safnow.org