WASHINGTON, D.C. (KMHL/LEARFIELD) – Smiles pretty much all around as House Democrats and the Trump administration announced agreement to move forward with the president’s replacement for NAFTA.

Minnesota Farm Bureau President Kevin Paap (PAP) says the USMCA modernizes and improves that earlier agreement.

“Strengthen our science-based rules, take care of some wheat grading issues, dairy access that we’ve had some concerns about,” said Paap.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minnes0ta) was also celebrating the announcement of the deal Tuesday. He called the passage of the USMCA a step in the right direction.

“I have been pushing for months to get this deal to the finish line, and this announcement is great news for farmers, businesses and workers in western Minnesota and nationwide,” said Peterson. “The threat of leaving NAFTA without a deal would have been devastating, and this deal provides needed certainty for our producers.”

Peterson added the agreement would make updates to how the three countries will address biotechnology, and sanitary and phytosanitary issues.