Three state representatives are asking U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to slow down the pace of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations. They feel that gives the U.S. the best opportunity to come to a fair agreement on dairy exports.
Representatives from Wisconsin, Washington, and New York all represent states that need open-market access to Canada in order to support their dairy exports.
Milk Business Dot Com says there hasn’t been any substantial progress in accessing the Canadian dairy market or dismantling their Class 7 pricing system. Wisconsin and New York dairy farmers were hit the hardest when Canada implemented its Class 7 milk pricing system in the spring of 2017. As dairy prices across the U.S. remain low, the three representatives say their farmers are depending on access to the Canadian market in order to sell their “world-class dairy products.”
In their statement, the legislators say, “We urge Ambassador Lighthizer to stop rushing the NAFTA negotiation process and focus on getting the best deal with both Canada and Mexico.” They add the arbitrary deadlines the administration says it faces are its own. “We should not be rushed to complete NAFTA negotiations at the expense of a good outcome,” they say.
Source: National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.