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DES MOINES, IA — Former Indiana Governor and Vice President Mike Pence says farmers play a “crucial” role in the new U.S. trade deal, known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

“The USMCA is a win for Iowa. It’s a win for the heartland and it’s a win for America’s farmers,” said Pence at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Thursday.

Pence said farmers and ranchers have already played a pivotal role.

“In 2018 alone, Iowa’s farmers and ranchers exported more than $6.6 billion worth of goods to Canada and Mexico,” said Pence.

Pence says the USMCA will do wonders for the economy.

“We think we’re going to sell $2.2 billion more in agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico alone,” said Pence.

He also believes the USMCA will help create 600,000 jobs.

The office of Indiana Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch estimates the state’s annual trade with Canada and Mexico at approximately $18.8 billion, a majority of that going to our neighbors to the north.

“I applaud President Trump for getting the job done and making good on his promise to put Hoosiers, our workers, farmers, and job-creators first,” said Crouch in January. “This historic trade deal will further strengthen Indiana’s relationship with Mexico and Canada by removing tariffs and increasing market access.”

Indiana Senator Todd Young has also praised the USMCA.

“Over 60,000 manufacturing jobs in Indiana are directly tied to trade with our closest neighbors, and our 94,000 farmers will be able to increase exports by $2.2 billion with this historic agreement,” said Young in January.