{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-leads-nebraska-delegation-letter-supporting-usmca/", "Ricketts Leads Nebraska Delegation Letter Supporting USMCA", "2026-08-11", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "Senate", "NE", "Pete Ricketts", "R000618", "www.ricketts.senate.gov", "ricketts", "https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/?jsf=jet-engine:press-list&pagenum=", "scraper", "On Friday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) led the Nebraska congressional delegation in sending a letter to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Greer expressing support for the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). USMCA has led to increased market access and certainty for Nebraska farmers, ranchers, and businesses.\n\n\u201cAs Mexico and Canada are Nebraska\u2019s two largest export markets, USMCA is important for thestate\u2019s economy. Over the past three decades, farmers, ranchers, and business owners across thestate have built lasting relationships with both countries, benefiting from the improved businessenvironment created by the negotiation of USMCA. The agreement increased market access forthe Nebraska\u2019s corn, soybeans, beef, pork, agricultural machinery, steel, pharmaceuticals, ethanol, and other products, resulting in nearly $10 billion in agricultural exports from Nebraska to Mexico and Canada. In 2025, Nebraska exports included $550 million in corn, $373 million in agricultural machinery, and $164 million in autos and auto parts,\u201d the delegation wrote.\n\nThe letter was signed by Senators Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer and Representatives Mike Flood, Don Bacon, and Adrian Smith.\n\nRead the full letter here and below:\n\nDear Ambassador Greer,\n\nThank you for your continued efforts to secure trade agreements that level the playing field forNebraska farmers, ranchers, and businesses. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement(USMCA) has delivered meaningful results for Nebraska, and this Joint Review provides animportant opportunity to strengthen the agreement by addressing concerns with market access,regulatory certainty, and market stability.\n\nAs Mexico and Canada are Nebraska\u2019s two largest export markets, USMCA is important for thestate\u2019s economy. Over the past three decades, farmers, ranchers, and business owners across thestate have built lasting relationships with both countries, benefiting from the improved businessenvironment created by the negotiation of USMCA. The agreement increased market access forthe Nebraska\u2019s corn, soybeans, beef, pork, agricultural machinery, steel, pharmaceuticals, ethanol, and other products, resulting in nearly $10 billion in agricultural exports from Nebraska to Mexico and Canada. In 2025, Nebraska exports included $550 million in corn, $373 million in agricultural machinery, and $164 million in autos and auto parts.\n\nThe Joint Review offers an opportunity to expand on the benefits of USMCA through resolvingoutstanding trade irritants. This includes through addressing punitive application of retroactivevalue-added taxes on U.S. products, ensuring Mexico recommits to long-term access for biotechagricultural products, and leveling the playing field for U.S. dairy producers through Canada\u2019smanagement of the tariff rate quota for dairy products. Further, we urge you to work with Mexico and Canada to develop coordinated policies to ensure that these markets are not utilized by Communist China to circumvent U.S. trade policy and economic interests.\n\nThe USMCA is the gold standard for international trade agreements, and a productive Joint\n\nReview will ensure that legacy continues. We appreciate your ongoing efforts and stand ready tosupport you in expanding fair, stable markets for Nebraska\u2019s world-leading products.", 1, "2026-08-12T06:18:38Z", "2026-08-12T06:20:33Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.ricketts.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ricketts-leads-nebraska-delegation-letter-supporting-usmca/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.6210610046982765, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}