Adding their voices to the dispute with Canada over protectionist dairy policies, the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry asked Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to hold Canada accountable for policies that function as trade barriers to U.S. products.
In a letter sent on Tuesday, Sens. Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) asked the officials to gain detailed information from Canada about the new pricing scheme that is allowing Canadian dairy processors to undercut U.S. companies and upend market-driven dairy sectors around the world. They said the U.S. must insist that Canada be transparent and open about the policies and their implementation across provinces.
“Additionally, we ask that you evaluate all tools available to help mitigate any damaging effects that directly result from this program and allow U.S. dairy producers to compete with Canada on a level playing field. As the U.S. considers a renegotiation of NAFTA, it is imperative that America’s hardworking farmers and ranchers remain a top priority,” they said.
IDFA also continues to urge the administration to take action on Canada’s protectionist policies and to make dairy a key priority in the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Here is a review of the efforts undertaken by IDFA and the dairy industry since January to raise awareness and request action by President Trump and his administration.
For more information, contact Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org.