A group of former Agriculture Secretaries joined current Secretary Sonny Perdue in backing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

The group signed a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to pass the trade agreement to “provide certainty in the North American market for the U.S. farm sector and rural economy.”

The group included former Agriculture Secretaries John Block, Mike Espy, Dan Glickman, Ann Veneman, Mike Johanns, Ed Shafer and Tom Vilsack.

Secretary Perdue says the letter shows support for USMCA “crosses all political parties, specifically when it comes to the agriculture community.”

USDA says the agreement will create new market access opportunities for U.S. exports to Canada of dairy, poultry, and eggs.

In exchange, the U.S. will provide new access to Canada for some dairy, peanut, and a limited amount of sugar and sugar-containing products.

Canada and Mexico are the first and second-largest export markets for U.S. food and agricultural products, totaling more than $39.7 billion in exports last year, supporting more than 325,000 American jobs.