The NOA Says “Your Future Depends on USMCA Changes”

Jared Gutierrez with Columbia Basin Onion reminds NOA convention attendees that the NOA is non-profit and the best bang for the buck of any group. Gutierrez won a recruitment award at the banquet.

October 17, 2025

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The National Onion Association is pressing for two key provisions that could significantly impact the U.S. onion industry, but they need your support in numbers to get the message across.

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement (USMCA) — the free trade agreement between our North American countries — is due for a systematic review and the U.S. government is now seeking public input (a link to provide your comments is below). This is a moment to ensure the concerns of the U.S. onion industry are heard and addressed, and here are two issues for which we are advocating to be included in the agreement going forward.

Please note that when you submit your comments, you are communicating directly with the U.S. Trade Representative. This replaces the need to write a formal letter. When submitting comments, please comment on each of the following issues separately by Oct. 30, 2025.

1. Enforcing the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty through USMCA.

We need to tie the water treaty to the USMCA to enforce the treaty’s water-sharing provisions between the U.S. and Mexico. Mexico has repeatedly failed to deliver the water owed to the United States under the 1944 treaty, despite recent negotiations in which they committed to compliance. Over the years, Mexico has diverted water rightfully owed to the United States, increasing its onion acreage, and unfairly competing with U.S. growers.

2. Establishing a per-bag fee on imported Mexican onions

Mexican onion production costs less than U.S. production, giving them a built-in trading advantage. A per-bag fee (from $3 to $5?) would help level the playing field and protect the competitiveness of U.S. growers.

 Post your comments on the federal register website for each issue. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting Your Comments on USMCA Review

Tying the water treaty into the agreement:

Step 1: Click the link to the Federal Register site. Begin by entering your name and company/farm name.

Step 2: The next prompt will be “Chapters”. You can choose all that apply. Please select: 2, 3, 10, 24, and 31.

Step 3: Then you’ll see “Industry”. You can also choose more than one. Please select: Agriculture, Other, and Fruits & Vegetables.

Step 4: Next is ” Issue”. Again, you may choose several. Please select: Agriculture, Regulatory Practices, Competitiveness, Dispute Settlement & Enforcement.

Step 5: At the bottom of page 2 is the Comment box. This is where you tell your story. Your comment can be short or long, but please include:

Per-Bag Fee comment instructions: Follow the same steps to submit your comments on the per-bag fee, but choose chapters 2, 3, 10, 23, 26, and 31.

Details to include in both comments:

  • Number of acres you farm, number of years in operation, and if you’re a family farm or family generational farm.
  • Number of different crops you grow.
  • Number of employees you hire during the year, and the number at harvest.
  • Be sure to state clearly in each comment:
  • 1. Mexico has for 30+ years disregarded its duties to provide water to the U.S. under the 1944 treaty, which has allowed the country, particularly Chihuahua, to unfairly compete with U.S. agriculture. The 1944 Treaty must be incorporated into USMCA to force compliance.
  • 2. A per-bag fee on each bag of onions entering the United States from Mexico, will level the playing field in which Mexico is able to undercut U.S. prices due to low overhead.

The Deadline: Comments must be posted no later than October 30, 2025.

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