But I looked at him, and I realized - actually during that speech - it's not his fault or their fault. It's our fault for allowing that to happen. It's our leaders' fault. (Applause.)
Over the last 15 years, we've seen a continual decline in the U.S. share of agricultural trade all throughout the world. You know that. It was all going in the wrong direction. It's changing now. Wait until you see what happens. If we do the right deal with China, you're talking about massive - they're already backordering, right? They're already back. I told them. I said, "You got to start ordering. You're going to order." They're going to order, and they've already started.
We're turning all of that around with fair trade deals that put American farmers, ranchers, and, in fact, put America first. That's what I'm interested in: America first. (Applause.)
We just opened Argentina to American pork exports - pork - for the first time in a quarter of a century. They needed something; I said, "You have to open it up to pork." And they said, "Okay." I said, "Why didn't you do it before?" They said, "Nobody ever asked us." (Laughter.) A lot of it is that. You would be amazed. Nobody ever asks.
India and Morocco have both opened their markets to our poultry exports. We do so much for them. It's incredible.
Japan opened its market to U.S. exports of potatoes from Idaho - (applause) - and lamb from the great state of Texas, yes. No, they just opened up. We asked them. We said, "You got to open up. Sorry."
U.S. beef has been shipped to Brazil for the first time since 2003. They're going to have a great new leader. They say he's the Donald Trump of South America. Do you believe that? (Applause.) And he's happy with that. If he wasn't, I wouldn't like the country so much. But I like him.
And we opened China to American beef for the first time in many, many years. We've taken - (applause). You know that. But that was before the trade deal. Don't even worry about it. This is - that's peanuts compared to what we're talking about.
We've taken the toughest-ever actions to confront China's unfair trade practices that hurt American farmers and ranchers. This includes China's theft of trade secrets from American agri-business. I couldn't believe how complicated your business is - with the seeds and the genetic farming. It's incredible. People don't know this. But your secrets were being stolen by China, and, in all fairness, other countries.
We want a fair deal for American farmers - removing China's arbitrary bans on agricultural imports, safeguarding our intellectual property, and providing fair market access to all American producers.
We have also made history by finalizing an agreement to replace the horrible NAFTA with a brand new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, called the "USMCA." A whole different world. A whole different world. (Applause.) NAFTA was one of the worst trade deals ever made by a country. It killed our country.
This landmark trade deal will increase exports of wheat from Montana, dairy from Wisconsin, chicken from Georgia, and products from farmers and ranchers all across our country.
As part of the USMCA, Canada agreed to give fair treatment to American wheat farmers. They will now grade American wheat just like they grade their own wheat. (Applause.) Which, to me, doesn't mean much, but, to farmers, it means a lot. That's what they tell me. I said, "What can we do?" They said that would be a big thing - on wheat.
Even the NFL - you know, the NFL, for many years, was having a hard time with Canada, having to do with the Super Bowl. I heard about it, and I asked about it. And it was a lot of money, but it was tiny compared to the overall deal with Canada and with Mexico. So, as one of the things, I said, "You got to treat the NFL fairly." You know, it's a great American company. And we had the dispute over the National Anthem, and that seems to have worked out properly, which is great, which I give them credit for now.
And I said, "Listen, when you go to Canada, you're going to ask for this thing because they're not treating our company right." Any company - I don't care, but that was the NFL. A big company. A great American company. I said, "You're not treating them well." We asked for it; in one minute, we solved a problem that they've been working on for many years. Total success. And they called up, and they thanked me. But it's something that I want to do for American companies. It's easy, it's short, it took a few minutes, and we got it. They were fighting for years.
Canada also agreed to end unfair trade practices that hurt American dairy exports.
Also here today are Cris and Gary Peterson, and their son Ben and daughter-in-law Nicki. More than 140 years ago, Gary's great-grandmother began their farm in a tremendous state - I love this state. Remember when they say, "Donald Trump has won the state of Wisconsin"? That state hasn't been won by a Republican in so long. Bill, you don't remember any wins there, right? That was a long time ago. That was even before your time. Right, Bill? A long time. And they said, "Donald Trump..." Remember that? Was that a great evening or what? "Donald Trump has won the state of Wisconsin." (Applause.) We love Wisconsin.
Today, the Petersons have more than 900 dairy cows. Like so many of our great farmers, the Petersons have faced a number of threats to their farm and to their entire way of life.
For years, NAFTA made it difficult for dairy farmers like the Petersons to export milk, ice cream, cheese, and many other dairy products. Under the USMCA, the Peterson family will finally have the level playing field that they should have had for many years. They have it now.
Together, we urge Congress to support American agriculture, stand up for American workers, and hopefully they will approve the USMCA quite quickly.
You know, the one thing I worry about - it's almost - no matter how good something is, they might not want to approve it, but they'll approve it. This one - I think it's going to be very tough for them not. But I think that - I hear it's in very good shape. And it replaces something that has been so bad to our country. This is a great deal.
As we reverse the damage of decades of unfair trade, we are also providing up to $12 billion in relief to protect our farmers from unfair foreign retaliation. And you saw that recently with Sonny Perdue, where we were helping out during a very unfair period of time when people were actually trying to affect our election. Nobody brings that up. In this case, it was China. I haven't heard too much about that. Have you heard anything about that? But they were. And we helped our farmers out.
No one understands better than our great farmers that the tough choices we make today reap rewards for centuries to come.
More than 200 years ago, this very city was at the center of America's negotiations during the legendary Louisiana Purchase.
No one knew how it would all turn out, but President Thomas Jefferson acted decisively for the American people. After months of negotiations, we got what no one ever imagined possible. Not only did we gain New Orleans, we doubled the size of the United States; we secured new parts and ports - new parts of the map and globe that we never thought, and new ports, very importantly for American agriculture; and we made our nation the greatest farm country on God's Earth. And it remains that. And it's now, for the first time in a long time, getting better. (Applause.)
Our nation was founded, settled, and built by farmers. (Applause.) From the fields of Pennsylvania to the hills of Tennessee - (applause); from the plains of Missouri - (applause) - to the Big Sky of Montana - (applause); and from the marshes of Florida - (applause) - to the fertile valley of California - (applause) - farmers have always led the way. (Applause.)
The American farmer embodies the timeless values of America. You believe in hard work and self-reliance. You follow the rules, obey our laws, and respect our great American flag. (Applause.) You support our communities, raise loving families, teach your children right from wrong, and you are always loyal to this magnificent nation that we so love.
Now you have a government that is loyal to you, finally, in return. (Applause.) Because we know that government's first duty is to our own citizens.
We are fighting for the American farmer, and we are fighting for the American Dream, and for products made and grown with pride right here in the USA. It's what we're fighting for. (Applause.)
We are defending a cherished legacy, and we are preserving a beautiful way of life passed down from mothers and fathers to sons and daughters, from generation to generation. You are the keepers of this noble tradition. You are the guardians of this majestic heritage.
We are standing up for the men and women who work the fields, till the soil, and harvest the land. We are protecting your rights, your freedoms, and our glorious Constitution.
And we are doing it all with love in our hearts, joy in our souls, and trust in our God. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you.
To all of the farmers here today and across our country, the greatest harvest is yet to come. The future for America's farmers is bigger, better, bolder, and brighter than ever before.
I just want to thank you all for being here. I'm so honored to have had this kind of a turnout, this kind of a record. I want to thank the American Farm Bureau for the incredible job they do. I'm proud to be a great friend of the farmer, of the rancher, of the people who so nobly do what you do.
God bless you all. God bless our farmers. God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much everybody. Thank you. (Applause.)
