US, Mexico and Canada trade agreement benefits Illinois

US, Mexico and Canada trade agreement benefits Illinois | Opinion Show Caption Hide Caption Trump's chaotic trade policy continues to face legal challenges Trump's promised tariffs of 50% on some Canadian goods would risk higher inflation on both sides of the border. A farm doesn't thrive on a good harvest alone. With supply, there must be demand. Maintaining existing healthy and reliable markets is crucial, now more than ever in this extremely volatile global market. Farming is a business, and like any business, you have to make investments today based on what you believe the market will look like tomorrow. My family farm is celebrating its 170th anniversary this year and the future of my farm depends on the assurance that there will be strong demand for what we grow. A big part of that demand comes from beyond our borders. Canada and Mexico are the United States' top two export markets. Together, they purchase roughly one-third of all U.S. agricultural exports, including billions of dollars' worth of corn and corn products each year. More: Springfield schools are underfunded, and they're not alone | Opinion Here in Illinois, the relationship is just as important: in 2025, our state exported $17.5 billion in goods to Canada and another $12 billion to Mexico. Those numbers may be measured statewide, but their impact reaches individual farms like mine. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) helps keep that trade flowing, giving farmers the certainty we need to plan for the future. But farmers can no longer take that stability for granted, with USMCA facing annual reviews instead of the 16-year extension many farmers hoped for. Certainty matters because every crop starts with an investment. Long before harvest, I'm paying for seed, fertilizer, equipment, fuel, and other inputs, without knowing exactly what that crop will bring in.I currently harvest my corn with an outdated combine that needs to be replaced with a more modern machine. Looking to the future, my primary goal is to purchase my first piece of ground and expand our operation. When I know there are strong, dependable markets for the corn I grow, I can make those investments with greater confidence. Planning for the next harvest isn't the only way I see value from USMCA. The benefits are clear every time I head to the grocery store. A recent Purdue University study found that North American trade agreements like USMCA save the average American household about $700 a year on food costs. That's roughly 7% of annual household food spending. As the Trump Administration continues to evaluate USMCA, negotiations should focus on maintaining the dependable market access Illinois farmers have built their businesses around and protecting the trade that helps keep food affordable for families. Farmers and families plan months, sometimes years, ahead, and we need a trade agreement that gives us the stability to do so. USMCA has helped my family, and others throughout Illinois and the country, make a living from the corn we grow while helping us save at the grocery store. Keeping the agreement strong and stable means having the confidence to keep investing in our operations, our communities, and the future of Illinois agriculture. Lance Muirheid is the 7th generation on Muirheid Farms and grows corn, soybeans, and wheat in Macon and Piatt County.