Darigold CEO Asks Congress To Preserve NAFTA

Darigold’s President and CEO traveled to Washington DC this week to testify before Congressional leaders about the importance of NAFTA.  On Tuesday Stan Ryan testified withdrawing from NAFTA would unwind significant progress made in the dairy industry.  Even a status quo, he said, risks setback, as global competitors are emboldened.  The House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, chaired by Central Washington representative Dave Reichert is analyzing whether NAFTA has been successful for the U.S. economy and job creation, and whether NAFTA can be modernized to better address issues affecting U.S. workers, business and consumers.

Roughly 40% of the dairy products produced by Darigold are exported to more than 20 counties.  Mexico, Ryan added, is Darigold’ s largest export destination.

Click Here for Ryan’s full testimony.

Ryan asked the members of Congress present to:

• Remove any ambiguity or uncertainty of our commitment to Mexico, reinforce our relationship, and cement trade flows.
• Work with the Administration to repeal Canada’s new Class 7 Pricing Strategy. This matches the lowest prices in the world for milk protein finished products, despite having one of the world’s highest raw milk prices domestically, all operating under a state controlled and protected system. The strategy facilitates disposal of Canada’s excess milk proteins in world markets.
• Ensure that the Administration seek dairy access to Canada that is duty-free, just like in Mexico, and pursue the same type of benefits.

“Common sense economics would say, if it looks and feels like subsidized dumping, it probably is,” Ryan said of the Canadian pricing strategy. “This will damage U.S. dairy export shares around the globe.”

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