“As far a pork is concerned, the trade deals with Canada and Mexico have been tremendous for US pork producers,” said NPPC President John Weber, a pork producer from Dysart, Iowa.

“Our exports to those nations exploded because of the trade pact we have with them. But we know that some concerns have been raised by others, so we are committed to working with the Trump administration in looking for ways to improve our trade relationships with Canada and Mexico.”

Through November, US pork exports to Mexico in 2016 were nearly $1.2 billion, up 21 per cent from the same time last year, and to Canada they totaled $731 million, making those countries the No. 2 and No. 4 export markets, respectively, for US pork.

Since the US-Canada-Mexico free trade agreement went into effect Jan. 1, 1994, US trade north and south of the borders has more than tripled, growing more rapidly than US trade with the rest of the world.

Canada and Mexico are the two largest destinations for US goods and services, accounting for more than one-third of total US exports, adding $80 billion to the US economy and supporting more than 3 million American jobs, according to data from the Office of the US Trade Representative.

In fact, US manufacturing exports to Canada and Mexico have increased nearly 260 per cent over the past 23 years, and US farm exports to the countries have grown by more than 150 per cent.

“Trade in pork with Canada and Mexico has been so successful that any disruption in exports with either partner could hurt our producers’ ability to compete,” Weber said.

“We need to make sure we maintain and even improve our pork exports to our neighbors while working to ensure that others benefit as much as we do.”