Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»Arizona business, agriculture, and government leaders gathered in Phoenix last week for a roundtable discussion hosted by the Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół» of Commerce & Industry and to underscore the importance of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to Arizona’s economy and to warn against policies that could disrupt the deeply integrated North American trade relationship.
As the three countries prepare for the scheduled 2026 review of the agreement, the conversation brought together Arizona agriculture leaders, produce importers, and state officials, including Gov. Katie Hobbs and Arizona Department of Agriculture Director Paul Brierley.
The message from panelists was consistent: free trade with Mexico and Canada is not an abstract policy debate for Arizona. It is foundational to the state’s economic success, food supply chain, and workforce.
“Trade supports one in five jobs in Arizona, so it’s critical to our economy,” Hobbs said during the discussion. “We can have a USMCA that puts America first, Arizona first, while continuing to leverage the benefits of the free market to make us more competitive.”
The event highlighted Arizona’s unique role within the North American economy, particularly in agriculture. According to Farmers for Free Trade data, Arizona exported approximately $1.1 billion in agricultural goods to Mexico and Canada in 2025, supporting roughly 5,900 Arizona jobs.
Mexico and Canada remain the dominant destinations for Arizona agricultural exports. Vegetables and melons, fruits and tree nuts, beverages, meat products, and dairy products rank among the state’s top exports to its USMCA partners.
Speakers repeatedly emphasized that modern agriculture is built around integrated supply chains spanning all three countries.
The Arizona Farm Bureau’s Jim Boyle, a dairy farmer, pointed to the dramatic expansion of export opportunities since the original North American Free Trade Agreement took effect in 1994. Arizona dairy producers, for example, now ship various dairy products into Mexico, supporting processing plants and jobs across the state.
Panelists also pushed back on the notion that the United States can simply eliminate agricultural imports without significant consequences for consumers and producers alike.
Fresh Produce Association of the Americas President and CEO Lance Jungmeyer noted that Arizona’s produce industry depends heavily on complementary growing seasons between the United States and Mexico. Imports through Nogales help ensure year-round availability of fruits and vegetables while also stabilizing prices and supporting Arizona warehousing, trucking, logistics, and distribution jobs.
That interconnectedness extends well beyond produce. Brierley noted the importance of cross-border cooperation on food safety inspections, livestock health, fertilizer supply chains, and water management.
The discussion also touched on growing concerns over tariffs and uncertainty surrounding future trade policy. While participants acknowledged there may be areas within USMCA that could be improved — particularly around enforcement issues involving Canada — the broader consensus was that maintaining stability and predictability remains paramount.
Boyle warned that tariffs often hit agricultural producers particularly hard, reducing export opportunities for one of the world’s most productive farming sectors.
“Tariffs hurt American farmers greatly,” Boyle said. “We produce more food in the United States than we consume. Our export market really does help feed the world. Tariffs, essentially put up barriers to continue to do that.”
Panelists argued that preserving and strengthening North America’s economic integration is especially important as global competition intensifies.
Brierley noted that North America’s integrated supply chains give the United States, Mexico, and Canada a strategic advantage in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
The roundtable comes amid heightened attention on Arizona’s relationship with Mexico, particularly as the state continues to navigate issues involving border security, water policy, and international commerce simultaneously.
Still, speakers stressed that Arizona’s economic future is deeply tied to maintaining strong relationships with both neighboring countries.
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