A group of close to 50 U.S. House members have written to US Trade Representative Michael Froman and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack urging them to address dairy priority issues with the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal.
Chris Galen of the National Milk Producers Federation says one key priority is making sure Japan obeys the intent of the TPP in regards to geographic indicators which the E.U. has used with other countries in trade agreements.
He says another key priority is ensuring that Canada and Japan faithfully implement their TPP commitments and not change its cheese standards to gain a market advantage over other TPP countries.
Galen says the third priority is making sure all TPP countries comply on providing market access to each other.
Congress has yet to ratify the Trans Pacific Partnership however several House members want to make sure all the problem areas are taken care of before they consider it.