The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture members and their provincial and state counterparts from Canada and Mexico underscored their support for North American farmers and rural communities during the 35th annual Tri-National Agricultural Accord, issuing a joint communiqué highlighting their commitment to a long-term, predictable trade environment.

The 35th Tri-National Accord saw record participation from country delegations, including 28 U.S. states, nine Canadian provinces and six Mexican states. NASDA president, Washington State Agriculture Director Derek Sandison led this year’s robust U.S. delegation.

“By working together as a North American alliance, we deepen market opportunities for farmers and ranchers in communities across our states, territories and provinces,” Sandison said. “Our discussions on long-term predictability, science-based trade policy and enhancing cross-border collaboration to protect against harmful animal diseases and plant pests make a real difference for North American rural communities and set the foundation for these critical trading relationships.”

In addition to the joint communiqué, a statement from tri-lateral meetings and statements from the U.S.-Canada, U.S.-Mexico and Canada-Mexico bilateral meetings were published at the accord. These statements were informed by robust bilateral discussions on key trade topics, as well as tri-lateral meetings on USMCA/T-MEC/CUSMA, the role of states and provinces in bolstering public trust in agriculture, and cross-border collaboration on plant and animal health challenges.

“The Tri-National Agricultural Accord Delegates amplified our support for the long-term continuation of the USMCA/T-MEC/CUSMA trade agreement, as it provides a reliable, science-based framework that enables mutually beneficial trade of agriculture and food products across North America,” Sandison said.

The U.S. delegation also hosted more than 80 industry representatives from across North America for a roundtable discussion focused on topics including regulatory efficiency, strengthened communication, tariff and nontariff barrier implications and the extent of integration of our agriculture systems.

Throughout the meeting in recognition of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, delegates acknowledged the critical role of women in agriculture and reaffirmed the need to enhance inclusion and representation of women in the sector. This year’s accord featured stories of women farmers from around the globe through the conference programming. Read some of their stories on NASDA’s website.

The Tri-National Agricultural Accord is the primary opportunity for senior state and provincial agricultural officials of Canada, Mexico and the U.S. to work together on agricultural trade and development issues. The accord serves as the formal mechanism through which federal partners consult with state and provincial leaders on significant agricultural matters, representing a longstanding commitment to collaboration on trade between the three countries that dates to 1992. The U.S. will host the 36th Tri-National Agricultural Accord in Baltimore, Maryland, on Oct. 17-20, 2027.

Source: Tri-National Agricultural Accord October 2, 2026 news release