Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, traveled last week to Ottawa, Canada, to meet with officials from the Canadian government, several embassies and the dairy industry. The two-day trip focused on Canada’s national ingredients strategy, current provincial policies that are displacing U.S. dairy exports and implementation of Canada’s Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union. Hughes explained that proposed Canadian policies and the agreement with the EU would further restrict already limited trade with U.S. dairy and possibly violate existing trade agreements.
"We have valid issues with the current and future dairy polices in Canada and their impact on our members," said Hughes. "Unfortunately, the Canadians have been brushing off our concerns and continuing to violate their trade obligations, so these meetings provided a great opportunity for me to share our concerns in person. Until they start playing by the rules, we'll keep pounding at their door.”
IDFA plans to raise these issues forcefully with the Trump Administration’s transition team, appropriate members of the new administration once they’re in place and Canadian stakeholders in the United States and Ottawa. Fair access to the Canadian market is important for members, and IDFA will insist on fair treatment, Hughes said, adding that working aggressively on these issues will be a trade priority for IDFA going forward.
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