August 30, 2018

US dairy cooperative welcomes new US-Mexico FTA

US dairy cooperative Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative applauded a recent announcement that the US has reached a free trade deal with Mexico.

While full text of the deal has not yet been announced, the Office of the US Trade Representative has indicated that it would maintain zero tariffs on dairy and all other agricultural products and create standards for geographical indication.

Mexico also agreed to not restrict market access for commonly named US cheeses.

Congress will ultimately have to approve the agreement.

Both US President Donald Trump and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto expressed support for Canada joining the agreement, but Trump said a separate deal may be necessary.

"This is terrific news. No country imports more of our dairy products than Mexico. The prospect of losing that market has caused a lot of anxiety over the past several months," said Brody Stapel, president of Edge Dairy.

"...we should celebrate this for the major step forward that it is and give the administration credit for making it happen. We should also encourage the administration to capitalise on this momentum in our negotiations with Canada and other existing and potentially new trading partners. Our dairy farmers want access to new international markets, and we don't want to lose the good ones we already have."

- Edge