The message from Canada's Agriculture Minister to an audience in Tennessee focused on what he called the strongest economic area in the world.
The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay was is Nashville this week to deliver a keynote speech to the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual convention.
He also held a roundtable with U.S. producer and business groups to talk about opportunities and cooperation in the agriculture sector.
MacAulay says in his discussions there was a shared sense of importance about how big the trading relationship is.
"Farmers are business people. They fully understand what this has done for them over the last 23 years," said MacAulay. "I spoke to thousands of business people that fully understand how important trade is and what NAFTA is."
NAFTA talks are scheduled to ramp up again at the end of the month in Montreal.
