News

Dairy groups urging for completion of Japan trade deal

The U.S. Dairy Export Council and National Milk Producers Federation say an interim deal with Japan is encouraging news but more needs to be done.

U.S. Dairy Export Council CEO Tom Vilsack tells Brownfield the U.S. dairy industry is currently at a disadvantage with other countries with free trade agreements with Japan.

“If we get that level playing field, particularly in the cheese area, we can see terrific increases in sales over the next three to five to ten years—perhaps a doubling of sales and tripling of value.”

NMPF CEO Jim Mulhern says the interim agreement isn’t the end of the road and the U.S. needs to strive for similar market access granted to the dairy industries in the European Union and New Zealand.

A study by USDEC earlier this year found that the U.S. risked losing $1.3 billion in exports over a decade without a trade deal with Japan, costing dairy farmers $1.7 billion in farm income.