American farmers, cheesemakers call on President Trump to suspend tariffs on Mexican products while NAFTA talks continue
Mexico’s retaliatory tariffs would harm U.S. dairy’s trade with its largest and most reliable market.
More than 60 companies and organizations representing American dairy farmers and cheesemakers commended President Trump on June 26 for his efforts on equitable trade and for insisting that Canada halt its “market-distorting” dairy practices, according to a press release issued jointly by the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). At the same time, the companies urged the administration to reconsider its imposition of new tariffs on Mexico — in light of that country’s constructive engagement in North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations and the harm that Mexico’s retaliatory tariffs would have on U.S. dairy’s trade with its largest and most reliable market.
In retaliation for U.S. actions on steel and aluminum imports, Mexico recently added new tariffs — some of which will reach as high as 25% in July — on American-made cheeses, among other products, the dairy organizations said. These tariffs will diminish demand for high-quality dairy products that are produced across the United States.