North American agricultural trade remains a top priority for Michigan HUNTSVILLE, Ontario – Michigan Agri-Business Association (MABA) President Chuck Lippstreu on Tuesday emphasized the critical importance of a strong U.S.-Canada agricultural trade relationship in remarks to Canadian agribusiness leaders. “When it comes to agricultural trade, the Michigan-Canada partnership is second-to-none. We need to grow the opportunity – not diminish it – and the pieces are in place to achieve that goal,” said Lippstreu, speaking at the 2025 Ontario Agri Business Association Summer Conference. “Every year, billions of dollars in agricultural and food products move between Michigan and Canada. Many of our Michigan agribusinesses operate seamlessly between Michigan and Ontario, and with the upcoming completion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, there’s even more potential for the future. We are hopeful ongoing negotiations between the United States and Canada will position our region to continue growing as a hub for North American trade, travel and investment.” Lippstreu pointed to the Michigan-Ontario trade corridor as central to North American and global commerce, and emphasized the importance of trade for border states like Michigan: Canada purchased more than $28 billion in U.S. farm and food products in 2024, and is perennially a top-two export market for U.S. agriculture. For the state of Michigan, Canada is by far the top export destination for food and agricultural products, accounting for around 43% of the state’s total agricultural exports by value in 2024. In 2024, Michigan exported more than $1.25 billion worth of food and agricultural products to Canada, helping fuel record agricultural export sales of nearly $3 billion for the state. Lippstreu reiterated MABA’s support for fair, free North American trade, noting the organization strongly supported the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) negotiated during President Trump’s first term in office. “While our concerns continue around the potential for tariffs to stifle economic growth for Michigan, we are hopeful about ongoing trade negotiations with our state’s largest agricultural trading partner,” said Lippstreu. “This is an opportunity to continue economic growth and opportunity on both sides of the border.” # # # Learn more about MABA at www.miagbiz.org
