Earlier this year, the European Union and Japan announced a trade agreement in principle that includes dairy market access to Japan. Europe is actively working to establish a trade deal with Mexico in which agriculture and dairy will no doubt be central components. New Zealand is renegotiating a trade agreement with China in large part to improve dairy access terms. New Zealand and Australia are pushing to implement a “Trans-Pacific Partnership light” with eight other countries including Mexico.
Those are just a few examples of the trade activity our main dairy export competitors are currently pursuing. They clearly illustrate a point: The United States needs a proactive trade policy agenda to remain globally competitive and defend and grow the U.S. dairy export market share. If we stand still, we will cede ground that the industry cannot afford to lose.