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Michigan governor wants NAFTA improved

Michigan’s governor says NAFTA needs to be improved not broken.

Governor Rick Snyder told members of the Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan is the number one state exporting to Canada and number three to Mexico, making the North American Free Trade Agreement critically important to the state’s economy and ag exports.  “I believe we can improve NAFTA, it’s been around a long time and there are some issues related to dairy that are important improvements we could make.  But, I also think it’s important we don’t have a breakdown of NAFTA.”

After his address, he told reporters governors don’t have a direct influence in negotiations, but they have a voice and he welcomes the opportunity to speak with the Trump Administration about the importance of fair trading practices for all parties.  “The agreement happened quite a few years ago and the world has changed with technology and everything else.  I think we need to make sure we’re saying ‘are we doing the latest, greatest practices?’ to encourage more opportunity for Michigan exports and the ag field.”

Snyder says increasing value-added ag processing, exports and skilled trades will continue to be focus areas during his last year in office.

AUDIO: Governor’s address to Michigan Farm Bureau members