Washington, D.C. — Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) President Dennis Slater issued the following statement after President Trump signed the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Agreement during a ceremony at the White House.

“President Trump and Congress have delivered a free trade agreement that works for equipment manufacturers, farmers and working families across the country,” said Slater. “The agreement restores certainty to the North American market and secures duty-free access to our industry’s two largest export markets. It will help equipment manufacturers grow in the United States, compete globally and support millions of family-sustaining jobs across the country.”

Several senior executives representing the equipment manufacturing industry also hailed today’s signing of the UMSCA by President Trump:

  • Komatsu America: “The strong bi-partisan support of the USMCA indicates how important it was to update our trading rules," said AEM CE chair Rod Schrader, chairman & CEO, Komatsu America.  "USMCA will allow American manufacturers to establish more predictable trade relations and helps ensure fair trade for our products with our important trading partners, Canada and Mexico.”
  • Blount International: “Increasing trade with Canada and Mexico, will help build our business, along with the entire agricultural industry by providing a growth base for equipment manufacturers like us,” said AEM ag chair Jerry Johnson, president, Farm, Ranch & Agriculture Division, Blount International. “Giving farmers more equitable trading opportunities with Mexico and Canada opens possibilities for growing net farm income, at a time when they are faced with lower commodity prices, higher input costs, global uncertainty and an onslaught of weather-related disasters.”
  • AGCO Corporation: “The agreement signed by President Trump will greatly improve market stability for our customers and dealers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico," said AEM Board Director Bob Crain, senior vice president and general manager, AGCO Corporation. "This agreement will directly benefit American farmers, U.S. equipment manufacturers and the rural communities that rely on these important sectors of our economy, by supporting jobs and bringing needed financial stability back to the agricultural landscape.”
  • Case IH: “Case IH is pleased to see the passage of USMCA; there are improvements made in USMCA that support America’s farmers, rural communities and businesses,” said AEM Board Director Scott Harris, Case IH vice president, North America. "With commodity price stagnation and global market uncertainty, solidifying and expanding the North American market is absolutely critical for the broader agricultural community, our core dealer partners and customers."
  • Vermeer Corporation: “As a manufacturer of large construction and agricultural equipment, we look forward to moves that make getting Vermeer equipment in the hands of those who need it easier than before,” said AEM Board Director Jason Andringa, president and CEO, Vermeer Corporation. “Today’s signing of the USMCA signals progress for manufacturers and markets across the country and beyond by removing uncertainty and paving the way for continued economic growth."

Since the creation of NAFTA two decades ago, equipment manufacturers have benefited greatly from duty-free market access to our industry’s two largest export markets, Canada and Mexico. The USMCA builds on the success of NAFTA to deliver an updated North American trade agreement for the 21st century. Equipment manufacturers support 1.5 million jobs and contribute $188 billion each year in the U.S. and Canada.