The White House has reportedly circulated a draft letter to Congress outlining its approach to re-negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement. The timing of formal notification, which triggers a 90-day consultation period before negotiations can begin, is uncertain and won’t likely happen until U.S. Trade Representative nominee Robert Lighthizer advances further in his confirmation process. Meanwhile, the U.S. agriculture sector has turned up the heat on the importance of maintaining and expanding market access to Mexico. Dairy market analyst and President of Blimling & Associates Phil Plourd says Mexico is the top market for U.S. dairy.

Plourd thinks the administration’s hard-line posturing in regards to trade with Mexico, is simply rhetoric.

He says Mexican trade is just too important to the U.S. for the administration to not work out a new NAFTA deal that is better, perhaps even for both countries.

Members of Congress have been very vocal about the importance of NAFTA for the U.S. food and agricultural industry.