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The National Onion Association (NOA) is asking the onion industry’s help to influence policymakers on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement (USMCA), an important trade agreement that will undergo review and revisions at a hearing in mid-November.
The issues at hand are:
1. Enforcing the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty through USMCA.
The 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 Mexican producers 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.
