Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is promoting a self-sufficiency food initiative. Mexican farmers will be paid a guaranteed price to grow the corn needed for tortillas. Incentives are also in place for Mexico to increase domestic dry bean production by 30 percent in six years to replace bean imports. Northavest Bean Growers Association Executive Director Mitch Coulter says Mexico is an important market for U.S. dry beans. “Mexico is one of our top five markets always for North Dakota, Minnesota, and really the U.S. bean market,” said Coulter. “When you start to press self-sufficiency in their marketplace, you have to question whether that’s even possible. A year ago they had a drought in Mexico and they really relied on U.S. product for a lot of commodities. Not sure that’s even a possibility.” Coulter said agriculture benefits from free and open trade. “We want to stay away from tariffs; we want trade agreements and try to get away from the protectionism.”
