NMPF: Mexico Vital To U.S. Dairy, Canada Remains Closed

While negotiations of an updated NAFTA continue, the National Milk Producers Federation finds itself in the middle of a balancing act.  Chris Galen, NMPF Vice president, told the Washington Ag Network Mexico is a very profitable market where dairy producers have enjoyed growth over recent years.

“The U.S. shipped $1.2 billion worth of dairy products in 2016.  That’s up $200 million just since 2002, and a much smaller number back, say in ’92 right before NAFTA was implemented.”

So from that aspect, Galen said they want to prevent the administration from walking away from NAFTA.  However, he says there are some specific issues with Canada he’d like worked out.

“Specifically, it’s a fact that almost unique among all other aspects  of the Canadian market, the dairy market there in Canada is really closed off to us, and in fact what little access we had in Canada in the last 5-10 years has been closed off as about a year ago, because of a chance of pricing policies.”

Galen said as the world’s middle class continues to grow, it’s more and more important that the U.S. have soil trade deals around the world.  He said that will allow American farmers to meet the need of the growing dairy diet internationally.

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