The 15th round of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations are now underway in Auckland, New Zealand, and John Kelly, IDFA manager of international affairs, has made the trip to promote the interests of the U.S. dairy industry. The negotiations, which run December 3-12, are the first to include Canada and Mexico as negotiating partners.

Earlier this year, Clay Hough, IDFA senior group vice president, testified before the U.S. Trade Representative to support Canada's participation and emphasize that the country must abandon its current dairy trade policies because they conflict with TPP goals. Despite significant barriers, Canada is the second-largest dairy market for U.S. exports, accounting for more than $444 million in exports last year.

Mexico, which will also join the TPP negotiations, is the top export market for U.S. dairy products. It has been a success story for dairy trade under the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Other TPP negotiating partners are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Japan has expressed interest in participating as well.

For more information, contact Kelly at jkelly@idfa.org.