WASHINGTON – National Farmers Union President Rob Larew issued the following statement regarding the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and Canada and its impact on dairy farmers:
“Policymakers are focused on U.S. trade policy without solving the underlying problems in the dairy industry—corporate consolidation and continued overproduction. Broad dairy tariffs don’t solve these problems; they destabilize the industry, drive up costs and create more uncertainty for American dairy farmers, processors and rural communities.
“The number of U.S. dairy farms has plummeted by 84% since 1992, and tariffs only add to the uncertainty, making it even harder for family farmers to stay in business. Canada’s dairy system operates differently, but rather than undermining a system that ensures fair prices for farmers, we should be advancing policies that guarantee U.S. dairy farmers receive a fair price for their milk.
“Family farmers are always the first to feel the impacts of a trade dispute. We look forward to working with policymakers on enacting forward-looking reforms that foster fair competition and profitable markets for all farmers.”
