Tag: canada tariffs

U.S. Dairy Industry Supports Administration’s Dedication to Defending U.S. Dairy Market Access into Canada

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The White House announced earlier today that it is taking action to impose 50% tariffs on dairy imports from Canada to defend the rights of U.S. dairy exporters. The administration indicated it is invoking Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to “…hold Canada accountable for its retaliation and discrimination…” The National Milk Producers Federation and U.S. Dairy Export Council support the administration’s efforts to identify all possible avenues to drive Canada to make the necessary changes to its protectionist dairy trade practices.

“We appreciate the administration’s commitment to standing up for dairy farmers and manufacturers eager to make full use of the market access commitments Canada made under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement [USMCA],” Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC, said. “For far too long, Canada has intentionally misused its tariff rate quota system to impede the full use of USMCA dairy quotas. It’s time for Canada to come to the table and resolve this and other USMCA dairy issues. We look forward to working with the administration to ensure that all the intended dairy benefits of USMCA are fully realized.”

“Today’s assertive action by the administration makes clear to Canada that their dairy trade practices will no longer be tolerated,” Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF, said. “Canada simply cannot continue to discriminate against U.S. dairy farmers by effectively blocking negotiated access to its market. It is well past time for Canada to negotiate in good faith and tackle the outstanding USMCA dairy implementation issues to help drive a successful conclusion of the USMCA review.”

Under USMCA, Canada committed to providing important additional quantities of duty-free access for U.S. dairy product exports to its market through the creation of several tariff-rate quotas (TRQs). Regrettably, Canada’s decisions on how to administer those TRQs have resulted in persistent underfill, denying the U.S. dairy industry of the intended market access opportunities. Additionally, Canada has used loopholes to evade USMCA disciplines on dairy protein exports. Both topics are priorities NMPF and USDEC have urged the administration to resolve during the ongoing USMCA Review.

NMPF Highlights USMCA Importance at Events

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF and the U.S. Dairy Export Council co-hosted a U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement roundtable with Farmers for Free Trade on May 6 at Belgioioso’s facility in Green Bay, WI, alongside Congressman Tony Wied, R-WI, Land O’Lakes producer Amber Horn-Leiterman, and Wisconsin agriculture and business leaders.

NMPF made the case for targeted improvements to USMCA dairy provisions, including combatting Canada’s ongoing manipulation of dairy tariff-rate quota administration, addressing Canadian circumvention of dairy protein export disciplines and ensuring that Mexico preserves full U.S. cheese access to the Mexican market.

NMPF furthered its message two days later in Arizona, where United Dairymen of Arizona’s Jim Boyle, Jr. participated in a May 8 Phoenix roundtable with Governor Katie Hobbs hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Farmers for Free Trade.

Boyle highlighted the expanded export opportunities dairy producers have gained through the North American Free Trade Agreement and USMCA and emphasized the importance of improving and renewing the current trade deal.

With the mandatory July 1, 2026, USMCA joint review approaching, NMPF and USDEC are focused on ensuring that outstanding dairy issues with Canada are resolved, that trade remains fully open with Mexico, and that the three nations renew the trade deal.