Dairy Industry Asks Trump to Suspend Steel and Aluminum Tariffs

More than 60 companies and organizations representing American dairy farmers and cheese makers commended President Donald Trump this week for his efforts on equitable trade and for insisting that Canada halt its market-distorting dairy practices. At the same time, the companies urged the administration to reconsider its imposition of new tariffs on Mexico in light of it’s “constructive engagement” in NAFTA negotiations, and the harm that Mexico’s retaliatory tariffs will have on U.S. dairy’s trade with its largest market.

In retaliation for U.S. actions on steel and aluminum imports, Mexico recently added new tariffs, some of which will reach as high as 25% next month, on American-made cheeses, among other products. The National Milk Producers Federation says the tariffs will “certainly diminish demand for high-quality dairy products that are produced across the United States.”

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