News

National Milk seeks trade sanctions against Canada

The National Milk Producers Federation President is asking state and federal leaders to impose trade sanctions against Canada.

Jim Mulhern has approached the Trump administration.  “We’re asking the President to focus on this issue to address, put pressure on Canada for its protectionist policies.  We’re also asking governors in the states along the northern border to take whatever steps they can as well to address this situation.”

Mulhern says Canada’s new dairy import restrictions on ingredients like ultra-filtered milk go against NAFTA guidelines and have hurt U.S. processors.  “The changes alone on ultrafiltered milk are costing U.S. dairy processors, and ultimately U.S. dairy farmers, at least 150-million dollars a year in ultra-filtered milk exports just from Wisconsin and New York combined.”

 

But Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker says he wants the WTO to review the issue.  He says, “They (Canada) overall are our largest trading partners so we want to continue to have good trading relationships with them, but when it comes to the dairy industry, we think they’re just plain wrong on this and we expect the World Trade Organization will help us in that regard.”

 

Canada’s milk producers claim dairy is not a part of NAFTA, and support their closed door policy on imports.

The Canadian rejection of U.S. dairy products is the main reason given by Greenwood, Wisconsin-based Grassland Dairy for cutting 75 milk suppliers at the end of this month.

Jim Mulhern talks to Brownfield about dairy issues.