Republican lawmakers in the state Assembly last week sent a letter to congressional leaders and President Donald Trump urging the approval of a new North American trade pact they say will be a boon to upstate farmers.

The U.S.-Mexico-Canda trade deal will especially provide support to the state’s struggling dairy industry, they wrote.

New York exports more than $18.5 billion in products to Mexico and Canada a year.

In the letter, the state lawmakers write the USMCA is an improvement from the North American Freed Trade Agreement.

“Specifically, the agricultural industry in NewYork will secure much greater access to the Canadian market if this agreement is ratified by Congress,” they wrote.

“This is especially important for our dairy farmers, who previously were unable to access the Canadian market due to the Canadian milk pricing program. During this time of hardship for our dairy farmers, expanding the market could revitalize the industry and save many farms from closure.”

The new proposed trade pact has also been endorsed by the New York Farm Bureau and the Business Council.

“Undoubtedly, this agreement would be a tremendous victory for New York State and the entire nation,” the letter states. “Long term, uninterrupted trade with Mexico and Canada is critical for the economic vitality of our country.”