Washington, D.C. — Amanda Nguyen, President and CEO of the American Distilled Spirits Alliance (ADSA), delivered oral testimony on December 3 as part of the Administration’s review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).
ADSA was the only beverage alcohol organization offering oral testimony on a panel otherwise composed of agriculture-focused witnesses. ADSA underscored that U.S. distillers rely on agricultural commodities sourced across North America, and the USMCA’s framework directly supports farmers, agricultural suppliers, and rural communities.
In both testimony and written comments, ADSA emphasized that USMCA delivers stable and mutually beneficial trade for the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The Agreement protects non-discriminatory market access, strengthens North American supply chains, and maintains distinctive product designations, including American Single Malt Whiskey, American Rye Whiskey, Bourbon, Tennessee Whiskey, Tequila, Mezcal, and Canadian Whisky. These protections ensure authenticity for consumers and uphold long-standing regulatory cooperation among the three countries.
ADSA also highlighted the economic value of trade with Mexico and Canada. Spirits that are distinct to the U.S. and traded within North America support 245,900 U.S. jobs and contribute billions in revenue to bars, restaurants, and retailers, while generating significant tax revenue for federal, state, and local governments.
The Alliance reinforced the importance of maintaining clear, enforceable origin rules to prevent circumvention by non-originating products and to ensure that the benefits of the Agreement remain focused on producers and workers throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
“Distilled spirits are an essential part of American agriculture and manufacturing. USMCA supports stable, mutually beneficial trade that strengthens supply chains and protects iconic North American products,” said Amanda Nguyen, ADSA President and CEO.
ADSA will continue working with USTR, agricultural partners, and North American regulators to uphold a reliable trade environment that benefits consumers, farmers, and producers across the region.