The Senate ratified the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement Thursday by an overwhelming majority. National Pork Board CEO Bill Even says this was one of the most important trade deals for the U.S. pork industry and approval will bring certainty back to that market.

While Japan is the top market for U.S. pork on a value basis, Mexico ranks high on volume.

Even says now that USMCA has moved forward, the focus will be on how to fully regain the Mexican market for pork.

In 2018, Canada and Mexico took more than 40-percent of the pork that was exported from the U.S. and a similar volume is expected for 2019. The treaty must now be ratified in Canada.