Ag group officials are concerned that the steel and aluminum tariffs by the U.S. on Canada and Mexico will negate the benefits of the new USMCA trade deal. The NAFTA remake is expected to grow U.S. agricultural exports by $450 million a year however the steel and aluminum tariffs are expected to cause those U.S. exports to decline by $1.8 billion. Nebraska Farm Bureau Director of National Affairs Jordan Dux says President Trump doesn’t understand the connection between the tariffs and the USMCA.

Dux says those steel and aluminum tariffs need to be removed so the new agreement can proceed.

He says the whole point of the USMCA is to eliminate trade barriers and allow free trade to flow smoothly.

Those close to the Trump administration expect the steel and aluminum tariffs the U.S placed on Mexico and Canada to be removed at a later date, before the USMCA goes into effect. Dux hopes that happens so the deal can get ratified.