Dairy Processor News

Dairy industry urges Congress to pass USMCA

Several dairy organizations joined forces to write a letter encouraging the bill’s passage.

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) said they are urging Congress to quickly ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) with an outreach campaign highlighting the importance of the agreement to the success of U.S. dairy farmers and manufacturers.

In a letter sent to representatives of top-producing dairy states, USDEC, NMPF and IDFA detailed how provisions of USMCA positively impact the U.S. dairy industry. The organizations said the timely resolution of ongoing trade disputes and negotiations is critical to growing the dairy sector’s international market share, as well as maintaining credibility with U.S. trading partners.

In their letter, the organizations wrote, “On behalf of the dairy farms and businesses in your district, please pursue a USMCA vote without delay by working to resolve any outstanding issues as swiftly as possible and then quickly ratify the trade deal to send a clear message to the world that America still values fair trade and robust trade partnerships with our allies.”

According to Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF, passing USCMA will solidify and expand trade opportunities abroad.

“In the midst of uncertainty surrounding our trade relationships and yet another year of meager milk prices, the United States lost an average of seven dairy farms a day in 2018,” he added. “The passage of USMCA will instill a renewed sense of optimism in our dairy farmers.”

Tom Vilsack, president and CEO of USDEC concurred.

“The successful resolution of the Section 232 retaliatory tariffs helped pave the way for this critical trade agreement,” he said. “While we work together to secure its passage, Congress must also stand against the imposition of any additional tariffs that could jeopardize forward progress.”