The United States should improve the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) by enhancing sanitary and phytosanitary rules and preserving food safety laws, but above all should preserve export access to Canada and Mexico, United Egg Producers wrote in comments to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

USTR asked the public to comment on objectives for improving NAFTA. Most agricultural groups have been strongly supportive of NAFTA, because Mexico and Canada are among the largest export markets for U.S. farm products. In the case of eggs and egg products, Mexico and Canada rank #1 and #2, respectively.

UEP wrote that the improvements to sanitary and phytosanitary procedures negotiated in the abandoned Trans-Pacific Partnership could be a good model for improving NAFTA, but also noted that Mexico and Canada have a good track record at regionalizing trade restrictions during U.S. disease outbreaks. UEP also reiterated its long-standing position that any country – including NAFTA partners – wishing to ship processed egg products to the United States should be required to maintain a food safety system equivalent to ours. In addition, any country exporting shell eggs to the United States must be in compliance with the Food and Drug Administration’s Egg Safety Rule.