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Dairy groups say USMCA enforcement is needed to settle issues

The dairy industry is continuing to press for trade action following the first-ever meeting of top trade officials in the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement this week.

Shawna Morris with the National Milk Producers Federation tells Brownfield she’s doubtful more discussion with Canada on their dairy tariff-rate quotas will result in a resolution and if all countries want the agreement to work in practice, enforcement needs to happen.

“The Canadian view is, ‘there’s no problem here,” she says.  “They view themselves as already compliant despite the fact that’s very clearly not the case and the U.S. government has laid that out in black in white in the enforcement consultation request.”

If the USMCA was to be fully implemented, past estimates expect the U.S. to export up to an additional $314 million in dairy products.

Seventy dairy groups have requested the U.S. Trade Ambassador file a formal dispute settlement case with Canada moving forward.