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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECONTACTS:
August 26, 2014Jeff Squibb(217)558-1546
ILLINOIS TO HOST NORTH AMERICAN agricultural TRADE SUMMIT
Tri-National Accord coming to Chicago in October; participants to include commissioners, directors, ministers and secretaries of agriculture from Canada, Mexico and the United States
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois has been selected to host the 2014 Tri-National Accord, ameeting that brings together top agriculture officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States to discuss trade issues that impact their nations.
The 23rdannual meeting will be held Oct. 7 – 9 in Chicago at the Hilton Magnificent Mile Suites.
“Illinois is a global gateway for trade and a perfect setting for these talks,” Governor Pat Quinn said. “With an expansive transportation infrastructure, our state can ship to any port around the world, and its central geographic location gives Illinois a competitive advantage that few others enjoy. I’m hopeful these talks will strengthen our existing trade relationship with Canada and Mexico and make farmers and agribusinesses in all three of our countries more competitive in world markets.”
The Accord is especially significant to Illinois’ agriculture industry, which exports more than 40 percent of its commodities -- the corn and beans it grows and the pork and beef it raises.
“No doubt about it, the economic vitality of the industry depends upon our ability to cultivate global markets,” Agriculture Director Bob Flider said. “We are the third-leading agricultural exporter in the United States with sales of $8.7 billion. This includes $2.6 billion in exports to Canada and Mexico, which are two of our top three trading partners.”
The first Tri-National Accord took place in Puerto Vallarta, Mexicoin 1992. The meeting has been held every year since then and rotates among the three participating countries. Last year, it was held in Saskatchewan, Canada.
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The accord is designed to provide a forum for information exchange among the U.S. state directors, secretaries and commissioners of agriculture, the ten Canadian provincial ministers of agriculture and Mexico’s state secretaries of agriculture and rural development. Historically it has been used to resolve trade issues to make North American producers more competitive in world markets.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, is organizing the 23rd annual meeting with the help of the following industry sponsors:
American Egg Board
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Cargill
ChicagolandSpeedway
CropLife America
Dow AgroSciences
Farm Credit Illinois and 1st Farm Credit Services
Food Export Midwest
Grain Regulatory Officials
Growmark
Illinois Beef Association
Illinois Bureau of Tourism
Illinois Corn Marketing Board
Illinois Farm Bureau
Illinois Pork Producers Association
Illinois Soybean Association
Journal Communications
Midwest Dairy Association
Syngenta
Tate and Lyle
University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
USDA-APHIS
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