Dairy Remains A Challenge Between US & Canada

Dairy has been a major sticking point between the U.S. and Canada during NAFTA negotiations.  The issue may actually get worse as Canada is now sending subsidized milk powder to Mexico.  Jaime Castaneda, senior vice president of strategic initiatives and trade with the National Milk Producers Federation said the message to Canada is simple.

“If you’re going to have supply management then manage your supply.  Canada has actually been growing more than any other country in the world the reason they’ve been growing, they want butter fat and then get rid of the protein.”

Castaneda added other countries are beginning to side with the U.S. over the Canadian program.

“We in fact signed a letter, it included Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and the United States, and we all said in that letter to all our governments, we sent that to the Canadian government to let them know this was not acceptable.”

Castaneda said the Trump Administration has heard dairy producers and are putting pressure on Canada in the NAFTA negotiations to change their Class 7 program.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com